Main Entry: con·tam·i·nate

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈtam-ə-ˌnāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): con·tam·i·nat·ed; con·tam·i·nat·ing

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