contaminateverb [ T ]
uk/kənˈtæm.ɪ.neɪt/us/kənˈtæm.ə.neɪt/to make something less pure or make it poisonous:
Much of the coast has been contaminated by nuclear waste.
The food which had been contaminated was destroyed.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making things dirty & untidy
- blacken
- blot
- clutter
- defile
- dirty
- disarrange
- foul
- mess
- mess sth up
- mix
- mix sth up
- muddle
- muddle sth up
- muss
- pollute
- polluter
- soil
- stain
- sully
- tarnish
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contaminated
adjective uk/kənˈtæm.ɪ.neɪ.tɪd/us/kənˈtæm.ə.neɪ.t̬ɪd/
The infection was probably caused by swimming in contaminated water/water contaminated with sewage.
contamination
noun [ U ] uk/kənˌtæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/us/kənˌtæm.əˈneɪ.ʃən/
The water supply is being tested for contamination (= the presence of unwanted or dangerous substances).