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adulterate - 7 dictionary results
a⋅dul⋅ter⋅ate
[v. uh-duhl-tuh-reyt; adj. uh-duhl-ter-it, -tuh-reyt] 
təˌreɪt
verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing, adjective –verb (used with object)
| 1. | to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements; use cheaper, inferior, or less desirable goods in the production of (any professedly genuine article): to adulterate food. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To adulterate
| a·dul·ter·ate (ə-dŭl'tə-rāt') tr.v. a·dul·ter·at·ed, a·dul·ter·at·ing, a·dul·ter·ates To make impure by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients. adj. (-tər-ĭt)
[Latin adulterāre, adulterāt-, to pollute; see al-1 in Indo-European roots.] a·dul'ter·a'tion n., a·dul'ter·a'tor n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to make impure or inferior by adding foreign substances to something: adulterate coffee with ground acorns; silver debased with copper; doctored the wine with water; rag paper loaded with wood fiber. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Adulterate
A*dul"ter*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adulterated; p. pr. & vb. n. Adulterating.] [L. adulteratus, p. p. of adulterare, fr. adulter adulterer, prob. fr. ad + alter other, properly one who approaches another on account of unlawful love. Cf. Advoutry.]1. To defile by adultery. [Obs.] --Milton. 2. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of a foreign or a baser substance; as, to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coin, etc. The present war has . . . adulterated our tongue with strange words. --Spectator. Syn: To corrupt; defile; debase; contaminate; vitiate; sophisticate.Adulterate
A*dul"ter*ate\, v. i. To commit adultery. [Obs.]Adulterate
A*dul"ter*ate\, a. 1. Tainted with adultery. 2. Debased by the admixture of a foreign substance; adulterated; spurious. -- A*dul"ter*ate*ly, adv. -- A*dul"ter*ate*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Main Entry: adul·ter·ate
Pronunciation: &-'d&l-t&-"rAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed; -at·ing
: to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element; especially : to prepare for sale by omitting a valuable ingredient or by replacing more valuable ingredients with less valuable or inert and usually harmful ingredients or with ingredients different from those claimed
NOTE: Under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a device such as a piece of medical equipment that is defective in some way is considered adulterated. —adul·ter·a·tion /&-"d&l-t&-'rA-sh&n/ noun —adul·ter·a·tor /&-'d&l-t&-"rA-t&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: adul·ter·ate
Pronunciation: &-'d&l-t&-"rAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed;-at·ing
: to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance; especially : to prepare for sale by replacing more valuablewith less valuable or inert ingredients —adul·ter·a·tor /-"rAt-&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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