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) Spurious; adulterated. Adulterous. [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.

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

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