contaminate

con·tam·i·nate

vt \kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt\

con·tam·i·nat·edcon·tam·i·nat·ing

Definition of CONTAMINATE

1

: to soil, stain, or infect by contact or association <bacteria contaminated the wound>

2

: to make inferior or impure by admixture <air contaminated by sulfur dioxide>

—con·tam·i·na·tive \-ˌnāt-iv\ adjective

—con·tam·i·na·tor \-ˌnāt-ər\ noun