contamination
/kən,tæmi'neiʃn/
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of making something impure or polluted: The process of introducing an unwanted substance or harmful element into something that was clean or pure.
- A substance that pollutes: The unwanted or harmful substance itself that has been introduced, causing impurity.
- The state of being impure or polluted: The condition of something after it has been made impure by the presence of a contaminant.
Usage and Examples
- Referring to the act or process:
- The contamination of the river was caused by industrial waste.
- Strict protocols are in place to prevent contamination of the laboratory samples.
- Referring to the polluting substance:
- The test revealed a bacterial contamination in the water supply.
- The recall was due to a possible metal contamination in the food product.
- Referring to the state or result:
- The site was closed due to widespread soil contamination.
- The level of radioactive contamination was dangerously high.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Cross-contamination": The transfer of contaminants from one substance or object to another, especially in contexts like food preparation or scientific work.
- Using the same cutting board for meat and vegetables can lead to cross-contamination.
- "Contamination fear/concern": Used in psychological or public health contexts to describe anxiety about coming into contact with pollutants or germs.
- His contamination fear made him wash his hands excessively.
Variants and Related Words
- Contaminate (verb): To make something impure or polluted by contact or mixture.
- The oil spill contaminated the coastline.
- Contaminant (noun): A specific substance that causes contamination; a pollutant.
- The filter removes various contaminants from the air.
- Uncontaminated (adjective): Not polluted; pure.
- They searched for an uncontaminated water source.
Synonyms
- Pollution: The presence of harmful substances in the environment. (Often used on a larger scale.)
- Impurity: A substance that makes something less pure.
- Taint: A trace of a bad or undesirable quality or substance.
- Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, a specific type of biological contamination.
Antonyms
- Purity: The state of being free from contaminants.
- Decontamination: The process of removing contaminants.
- Sterility: The state of being completely free from microorganisms.
Common Collocations and Phrases
- Environmental contamination: Pollution affecting air, water, or soil.
- Radioactive/chemical/bacterial contamination: Specifying the type of contaminant.
- Source of contamination: The origin point of the pollutant.
- Risk of contamination: The possibility of becoming polluted.
- Contamination control: Measures taken to prevent pollution.
Noun
-
the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors
-
a substance that contaminates
-
the state of being contaminated
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