verb (used with object),con·tam·i·nat·ed,con·tam·i·nat·ing.
to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc.: to contaminate a lake with sewage.
to render harmful or unusable by adding radioactive material to: to contaminate a laboratory.
noun
something that contaminates or carries contamination; contaminant.
adjective
Obsolete. contaminated.
Origin of contaminate
1375–1425; late Middle English contaminaten<Latin contāminātus, past participle of contāmināre to defile, spoil, equivalent to con-con- + -tāminare, verbal derivative of *tāmen something touched <*tag-s-men, equivalent to tag-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -s-men resultative noun suffix; cf. examen
non·con·tam·i·na·ble,adjectivenon·con·tam·i·na·tive,adjectivere·con·tam·i·nate,verb (used with object),re·con·tam·i·nat·ed,re·con·tam·i·nat·ing.self-con·tam·i·nat·ing,adjectiveun·con·tam·i·na·ble,adjectiveun·con·tam·i·nat·ed,adjectiveun·con·tam·i·na·tive,adjective
Some of these species are endangered, and their infection would likely occur either through direct contact with humans at zoos or aquariums or via untreated wastewater that is contaminated with the coronavirus from human sewage.
Everything we know—and don’t know—about human-to-animal COVID transmission|jakemeth|September 4, 2020|Fortune
Sure that the dish had become contaminated, Xue and colleagues tried the experiment again … and again … and again.
The Neurons That Appeared from Nowhere - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Nayanah Siva|September 2, 2020|Nautilus
The gel also might limit bees’ ability to fly or even contaminate bees’ eggs.
For teens, big problems may lead to meaningful research|Carolyn Wilke|July 28, 2020|Science News For Students
However, veterinary specialists say there are techniques that can help people identify contaminated food before they buy it.
Poisons are being used to beautify food on sale in African markets|Ghislaine Deudjui|July 7, 2020|Quartz
At the beginning of the outbreak, public health officials thought that the virus was primarily transmitted by people touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching their face.
Why scientists say wearing masks shouldn’t be controversial|Tina Hesman Saey|June 26, 2020|Science News
The hope, according to Rucker, is that Beck threatens to contaminate Fox News' overall brand.
Beck's Show Weathers Blow|Benjamin Sarlin|October 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
How could I know a wretched exile had returned to contaminate the soil with foreign vulgarity?
Where the Pavement Ends|John Russell
When higher authority winks at its existence among the rank and file, it will contaminate upward as well as down.
The Armed Forces Officer|U. S. Department of Defense
Your own life is your own to do what you like with, but you've no right to contaminate others.
The Lonely Unicorn|Alec Waugh
Isabel answered that the faults of the basest could not contaminate so perfect a character.
The Loyalists, Vol. 1-3|Jane West
Then Lois said she might as well go fetch Peter from the library, since Sprague was no longer there to contaminate the atmosphere.
Murder at Bridge|Anne Austin
British Dictionary definitions for contaminate
contaminate
verb (kənˈtæmɪˌneɪt) (tr)
to make impure, esp by touching or mixing; pollute
to make radioactive by the addition of radioactive material