im·pu·ri·ty

[im-pyoor-i-tee]
noun, plural im·pu·ri·ties for 2.
1.
the quality or state of being impure.
2.
Often, impurities. something that is or makes impure: After the flood the authorities warned against impurities in the drinking water.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English impurite < Latin impūritās. See impure, -ity


1. contamination, pollution, taint.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To impurity
Collins
World English Dictionary
impurity (ɪmˈpjʊərɪtɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -ties
1.  the quality of being impure
2.  an impure thing, constituent, or element: impurities in the water
3.  electronics acceptor See also donor a small quantity of an element added to a pure semiconductor crystal to control its electrical conductivity

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Impurity is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Example sentences
To be virtuous is to be physically clean and free from the impurity that is sin.
Copper sulfide ores have copper selenide as an impurity.
The problem of impurity is especially germane to herbal combinations.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT