| Library / English Dictionary |
CONTAMINATION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("contamination" is a kind of...):
dirtying; soiling; soilure (the act of soiling something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contamination"):
dust contamination (the act of contaminating with dust particles)
Antonym:
decontamination (the removal of contaminants)
Derivation:
contaminate (make impure)
contaminate (make radioactive by adding radioactive material)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The state of being contaminated
Synonyms:
contamination; taint
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("contamination" is a kind of...):
impureness; impurity (the condition of being impure)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contamination"):
dust contamination (state of being contaminated with dust)
Derivation:
contaminate (make impure)
contaminate (make radioactive by adding radioactive material)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A substance that contaminates
Synonyms:
contaminant; contamination
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("contamination" is a kind of...):
material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)
Derivation:
contaminate (make impure)
contaminate (make radioactive by adding radioactive material)
Context examples:
While plastics and microplastics are well-known threats to the world's oceans, the effect of metal contamination is poorly understood, according to the researchers.
(Sea fan corals face new threat in warming ocean: copper, National Science Foundation)
There are signs of contamination through mercury, which makes an impact on the fauna and the local population.
(Report unveils 381 new plant and animal species in Amazon, Agência Brasil)
I speak, she said, not deigning to take any heed of this appeal, and drawing away her dress from the contamination of Emily's touch, I speak of HIS home—where I live.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Manufacturers add it to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination and in toothpastes it helps prevent gingivitis.
(Common Ingredient in Toothpaste Puts Women at Risk of Bone Disease, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
Nothing seems safe from plastic contamination.
(Microplastics million times more abundant in the ocean than previously thought, National Science Foundation)
About 40 percent of sporadic CJD patients develop eye problems that could lead to an eye exam, meaning the potential exists for the contamination of eye exam equipment designed for repeat use.
(Eyes of CJD patients show evidence of prions, National Institutes of Health)
In very severe cases, OCD patients are unable to leave their house or flat due to fears of contamination.
(Deep brain stimulation may significantly improve OCD symptoms, University of Cambridge)
An artifact resulting from the contamination of the imaging field with an extraneous body substance.
(Body Substance Contamination, NCI Thesaurus)
Patients are infected usually by ingestion of contaminated food or wound contamination.
(Botulism, NCI Thesaurus)
The principle of "planetary defense," aimed at preventing the contamination of Earth by alien organisms and vice versa, is used by international space agencies during all interplanetary missions.
(Mutated Terrestrial Bacteria That Return from Space Pose Threat to Life on Earth, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
