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saturate

[v. sach-uh-reyt; adj., n. sach-er-it, -uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

to cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance, through solution, chemical combination, or the like.

to charge to the utmost, as with magnetism.

to soak, impregnate, or imbue thoroughly or completely: to saturate a sponge with water; a town saturated with charm.

to destroy (a target) completely with bombs and missiles.

to send so many planes over (a target area) that the defensive electronic tracking equipment becomes ineffective.

EXPAND

to furnish (a market) with goods to its full purchasing capacity.

COLLAPSE

verb (used without object)

to become saturated.

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Saturate is one of our favorite verbs.

So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:

to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.

to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.

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adjective

saturated.

noun

a saturated fat or fatty acid.

Origin:
1530–40; < Latin saturātus (past participle of saturāre to fill), equivalent to satur- full, well-fed (see sad) + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

de·sat·u·rate, verb (used with object), -rat·ed, -rat·ing.

o·ver·sat·u·rate, verb (used with object), -rat·ed, -rat·ing.

Synonyms
3. See wet.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To saturate

Example Sentences

Pour this over the bread, making sure to saturate all of it.

Politicians cannot shake enough hands and therefore need to saturate the media to make themselves known.

Saturate a cloth or sponge with the vinegar and water solution and wipe down the interior of the washer.

EXPAND

Pour this over the bread, making sure to saturate all of it.

Politicians cannot shake enough hands and therefore need to saturate the media to make themselves known.

Saturate a cloth or sponge with the vinegar and water solution and wipe down the interior of the washer.

Submerse hanging baskets and small pots for half an hour in tubs of water to saturate soil.

But the limit is that it will saturate the developed world, to the point where you can compare it to television.

In a large mixing bowl, combine bread cubes and enough milk to saturate them.

The camera will write slower and you'll saturate its internal buffer sooner.

The college wants to use a perforated hose to saturate the roots: such soakers hoses are prohibited.

Before doing that, gouge or saw away as much decayed wood as possible and saturate the rafter with wood preservative.

Not only is it more expensive, but the amplified signal may saturate your tuner, making matters worse.

The announcement of a new model typically lowers prices as used phones saturate the resale market.

Saturate your head with olive oil right before bed, cover with saran wrap, and wash it out the next morning.

Ovando said the secret is mashing the starting ingredients so the flavors saturate the water.

Without one, rainwater and melting snow dripping from a roof can easily saturate ground around the.

Unqualified students saturate universities, which decreases the value of degrees.

Skin-divers now breath pure oxygen to saturate their tissues so as to stay under longer.

If the design looks murky, saturate less and rub more gently.

Much of the plastic has broken down into tiny pieces that saturate the water and become a toxic part of the marine ecosystem.

The college wants to use a perforated hose to saturate the roots:.

Storey said customers should try to use text messaging and avoid phone calls, which can saturate a network.

If you ever have a flood in your house, it's going to saturate it and you're going to have a big mess.

Now, the trick is to slowly pour in half of the water in a circular motion, being sure to evenly saturate all of the grounds.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

saturate

—vb
1.	to fill, soak, or imbue totally
2.	to make (a chemical compound, vapour, solution, magnetic material, etc) saturated or (of a compound, vapour, etc) to become saturated
3.	(tr) military to bomb or shell heavily

—*adj*
4.	a less common word for saturated

[C16: from Latin saturāre, from satur sated, from satis enough]

satu'rater

—n

satu'rator

—n

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

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

saturate

1530s, "to satisfy, satiate," from L. saturatus, pp. of saturare "to fill full, sate, drench," from satur "sated, full," from PIE base *sa- "to satisfy" (see sad). Meaning "soak thoroughly" first recorded 1756. Marketing sense first recorded 1958. Saturation bombing first recorded

EXPAND

1942, in reference to Allied air raid on Cologne.

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

saturate sat·u·rate (sāch'ə-rāt')
v. sat·u·rat·ed, sat·u·rat·ing, sat·u·rates
Abbr. sat.

To imbue or impregnate thoroughly.
To soak, fill, or load to capacity.
To cause a substance to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance.
To satisfy all the chemical affinities of a substance; neutralize.
To dissolve a substance up to that concentration beyond which the addition of more results in a second phase.

sat'u·ra·ble (sāch'ər-ə-bəl) adj.
sat'u·ra'tor n.

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