| / English Dictionary |
MACULATE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Spotted or blotched
Classified under:
Similar:
dirty; soiled; unclean (soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Morally blemished; stained or impure
Synonyms:
defiled; maculate
Classified under:
Similar:
impure ((used of persons or behaviors) immoral or obscene)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Spot, stain, or pollute
Example:
The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it
Synonyms:
befoul; defile; foul; maculate
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "maculate" is one way to...):
attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame (bring shame or dishonor upon)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Derivation:
macula (a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases)
maculation (the act of spotting or staining something)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
Example:
Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
Synonyms:
defile; maculate; stain; sully; tarnish
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "maculate" is one way to...):
blob; blot; fleck; spot (make a spot or mark onto)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "maculate"):
darken (tarnish or stain)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
macula (a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases)
maculation (the act of spotting or staining something)
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