First Known Use: 1531
Dictionary
1adulterate
verb adul·ter·ate \ə-ˈdəl-tə-ˌrāt\
: to make (something, such as a food or drink) impure or weaker by adding something of poor quality
adul·ter·at·edadul·ter·at·ing
Full Definition of ADULTERATE
transitive verb
: to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element; especially : to prepare for sale by replacing more valuable with less valuable or inert ingredients
— adul·ter·a·tor \-ˌrā-tər\ noun
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Origin of ADULTERATE
Latin adulteratus, past participle of adulterare, from ad- + alter other — more at else
Related to ADULTERATE
- Synonyms
- cut, dilute, extend, lace, sophisticate, thin, water down, weaken
- Antonyms
- enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen
Other Medicine Terms
Rhymes with ADULTERATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
2adulterate
adjective adul·ter·ate \ə-ˈdəl-t(ə-)rət\
Definition of ADULTERATE
1
: being adulterated : spurious
2
: tainted with adultery : adulterous
First Known Use of ADULTERATE
1570
Related to ADULTERATE
- Synonyms
- impure, adulterated, alloyed, contaminated, dilute, diluted, polluted, tainted, thinned, weakened
- Antonyms
- fine, pure, ultrapure, unadulterated, unalloyed, uncontaminated, uncut, undiluted, unmixed, unpolluted, untainted
ADULTERATED Defined for Kids
adulterate
verb adul·ter·ate \ə-ˈdəl-tə-ˌrāt\
adul·ter·at·edadul·ter·at·ing
Definition of ADULTERATE for Kids
: to make impure or weaker by adding something different or of poorer quality <The company adulterated its orange juice with water and sugar.>
Medical Dictionary
adulterate
transitive verb adul·ter·ate \ə-ˈdəl-tə-ˌrāt\
adul·ter·at·edadul·ter·at·ing
Medical Definition of ADULTERATE
: to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance; especially : to prepare for sale by replacing more valuable with less valuable or inert ingredients
—adul·ter·a·tor \-ˌrāt-ər\ noun
Learn More About ADULTERATE
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