Contaminate Meaning in English

word

US

kənˈtæməˌneɪt

kuhn-TAM-uh-nayt

UK

kəntˈæmɪnˌeɪt

kuhn-TAM-in-ayt

Definition

To make something dirty, harmful, or dangerous by adding a substance that is not supposed to be there.

Usage & Nuances

Often used for pollution of water, food, or air. Common collocations: 'contaminate the water supply', 'contaminated food'. Generally formal or scientific; avoid confusing with 'infect' (disease spread) or 'pollute' (broader environmental sense).

• Spanish: contaminar
• Portuguese (BR): contaminar
• Portuguese (PT): contaminar
• Chinese (Simplified): 污染
• Chinese (Traditional): 污染
• Hindi: प्रदूषित करना
• Arabic: يُلوِّث
• Bengali: দূষিত করা - অপরিচ্ছন্ন করা
• Russian: загрязнять - заражать (веществом)
• Japanese: 汚染する - 汚す
• Vietnamese: làm ô nhiễm - làm nhiễm bẩn
• Korean: 오염시키다 - 더럽히다
• Turkish: kirletmek - bulaştırmak (maddeyle)
• Urdu: آلودہ کرنا - ملوث کرنا
• Indonesian: mengkontaminasi - mencemari

Example Sentences

Chemicals can contaminate the river.

basic

Do not contaminate the food with dirty hands.

basic

Oil spills can contaminate the ocean.

basic

If you leave meat out too long, bacteria can quickly contaminate it.

natural

Don’t let the clean water contaminate with dirty water.

natural

Careless handling in the lab could easily contaminate the samples.

natural