Question 1 · Quick check
adulterate
/əˈdʌltəɹeɪt/
verb · adjective
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
verb
To make something less pure by adding a cheaper or harmful substance.
- 02
verb
Extra detailTending to commit adultery; relating to or being the product of adultery; adulterous.
Examples
to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coins, etc.
You should not adulterate wine with water.
At a glance
Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 2
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- [-ˈdəl-]
- /əˈdʌltəɹət/
Deep Dive
verb
Extra meaningsTo corrupt, to debase (someone or something).
To make less valuable or spoil (something) by adding impurities or other substances.
adjective
Extra meaningCorrupted or made impure by being mixed with something else; adulterated.
More examples
In contextto adulterate coins, drugs, food and drink, etc.
I am poſſeſt with an adulterate blot, / My bloud is mingled with the crime of luſt: [...]
Theſe, and other like places in abundance through all thoſe ſhort Epiſtles, muſt either be adulterat, or elſe Ignatius [of Antioch] was not Ignatius, nor a Martyr, but moſt adulterate, and corrupt himſelf.
Related
Quick test
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Origin
verb
From Latin adulterātus (“adulterate, adulterated, defiled, polluted, counterfeited”), perfect passive participle of adulterō (“to adulterate, defile, commit adultery (with), counterfeit”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ad- (“to, in the direction of”) + alter (“other”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), literally “to go after someone else”. Equivalent to adultery + -ate.