adulterate
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a·dul·ter·ate
(ə-dŭl′tə-rāt′)tr.v. a·dul·ter·at·ed, a·dul·ter·at·ing, a·dul·ter·ates
To make impure by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients.
adj. (-tər-ĭt) Archaic
1. Spurious; adulterated.
2. Adulterous.
a·dul′ter·a′tion n.
a·dul′ter·a′tor n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
adulterate
vb
(tr) to debase by adding inferior material: to adulterate milk with water.
adj
1. adulterated; debased or impure
2. a less common word for adulterous
[C16: from Latin adulterāre to corrupt, commit adultery, probably from alter another, hence to approach another, commit adultery]
aˌdulterˈation n
aˈdulterˌator n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•dul•ter•ate
(v. əˈdʌl təˌreɪt; adj. -tər ɪt, -təˌreɪt)v. -at•ed, -at•ing,
adj. v.t.
1. to debase or make impure by adding inferior, alien, or less desirable materials or elements.
adj. 2. adulterated.
3. adulterous.
[1580–90; < Latin adulterātus, past participle of adulterāre to mix, adulterate]
a•dul`ter•a′tion, n.
a•dul′ter•a`tor, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
adulterate
Past participle: adulterated
Gerund: adulterating
| Imperative |
|---|
| adulterate |
| adulterate |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. | adulterate - corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones; "adulterate liquor" stretch, extend - increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance; "stretch the soup by adding some more cream"; "extend the casserole with a little rice" water down - thin by adding water to; "They watered down the moonshine" doctor, doctor up, sophisticate - alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive; "Sophisticate rose water with geraniol" |
| Adj. | 1. | adulterate - mixed with impurities impure - combined with extraneous elements |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
adulterate
verb debase, thin, weaken, corrupt, deteriorate, mix with, contaminate, devalue, water down, depreciate, attenuate, vitiate, bastardize, make impure The food had been adulterated to increase its weight.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
adulterate
verbTo make impure or inferior by deceptively adding foreign substances:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
adulterate
vt
wine, whisky etc → panschen; food → abwandeln; some adulterated Scottish version of Italian cooking → ein schottischer Abklatsch italienischer Küche
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
adulterate
vt. adulterar, cambiar el original, viciar; falsificar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012