contaminate

/kən'tæmineit/

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Explanation of the Word "Contaminate"

Definition:
The verb "contaminate" means to make something dirty or unsafe by adding harmful substances. It often refers to things like water, food, or the environment being mixed with harmful materials.

Advanced Usage:

• Scientific Context: "Radioactive materials can contaminate the soil, making it unsafe for farming."
• Food Safety Context: "Improper food storage can contaminate the food with bacteria."

Word Variants:

• Noun: "Contamination" (the act of contaminating or the state of being contaminated)
  • Example: "The contamination of the lake affected all the wildlife."
• Adjective: "Contaminated" (describing something that has been made unsafe)
  • Example: "The contaminated soil must be cleaned before any construction."

Different Meanings:

While "contaminate" primarily refers to making something unsafe or dirty, it can sometimes be used metaphorically. For example, you might say someone's negative attitude can "contaminate" the mood of a group.

Synonyms:

• Pollute
• Taint
• Infect
• Spoil
• Adulterate

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Phrasal Verb: "Contaminate with" (used to indicate what has caused the contamination)
  • Example: "The water was contaminated with heavy metals."

Summary:

In summary, "contaminate" is a verb that means to make something dirty or unsafe by adding harmful substances. It is important in discussions about health, safety, and the environment.

Academic

Verb

1. make radioactive by adding radioactive material
   • Don't drink the water--it's contaminated
2. make impure
   • The industrial wastes polluted the lake

Synonyms

• pollute
• foul