From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcontaminatecon‧tam‧i‧nate /kənˈtæməneɪt/ ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 HCSGPto make a place or substance dirty or harmful by putting something such as chemicals or poison in it Drinking water supplies are believed to have been contaminated.2 SPOILto influence something in a way that has a bad effect He claims the poster ads have ‘contaminated Berlin’s streets’. —contamination /kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/ noun [uncountable] radioactive contamination→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
contaminate• Publicity before the trial can contaminate a jury.• The ordinance prohibits the city from recharging in contaminated areas.• Humans can not catch foot and mouth but they can become contaminated by the airborne virus and transport it between areas.• Another reason is, plastic sacks are commonly contaminated by trash, such as paper and metal cans stuck inside.• Lead in plumbing can contaminate drinking water.• The food was contaminated during the production process.• Federal and state engineers are seeking way to capture and treat the contaminated runoff.• Hikers and campers often become infected by drinking water from contaminated streams.• The issue was whether or not the bacteria in his body would contaminate the local ecosystem.• The heat also produced up to a kilogram of lethal dioxin, some of which still contaminates the surrounding area.From Longman Business Dictionarycontaminatecon‧tam‧i‧nate /kənˈtæməneɪt/ verb [transitive]1to make something dirty and dangerous, for example with chemicals or poisonA large number of eggs were contaminated with salmonella.2INSURANCE to spoil goods carried by a ship, especially by sea water getting into them —contamination noun [uncountable]The pollution could cause serious contamination of agricultural land.→ See Verb tableOrigin contaminate (1400-1500) Latin past participle of contaminare, from contamen “contact” 