Definition of adulterate

< adulterant

adulterer >

a·dul·ter·ate    (-dlt-rt) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
a·dul·ter·at·ed, a·dul·ter·at·ing, a·dul·ter·ates

To make impure by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients.

ADJECTIVE:
(-tr-t)

1. Spurious; adulterated.
2. Adulterous.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin adulterre, adultert-, to pollute; see al-¹ in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
a·dulter·ation(Noun), a·dulter·ator(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
adulterate, debase, doctor, load

These verbs mean to make impure or inferior by adding foreign substances to something: adulterate coffee with ground acorns; silver debased with copper; doctored the wine with water; rag paper loaded with wood fiber.