/ English Dictionary |
ADULTERATE
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Synonyms:
adulterate; adulterated; debased
Classified under:
Similar:
impure (combined with extraneous elements)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they adulterate ... he / she / it adulterates
-ing form: adulterating
Sense 1
Meaning:
Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
Example:
adulterate liquor
Synonyms:
adulterate; debase; dilute; load; stretch
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "adulterate" is one way to...):
corrupt; spoil (alter from the original)
Verb group:
extend; stretch (increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "adulterate"):
water down (thin by adding water to)
doctor; doctor up; sophisticate (alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
adulterant (any substance that lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)
adulterant (making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials)
adulterator (a changer who lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)
adulterator (any substance that lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)