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contamination

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
con·tam·i·na·tion  (kn-tm-nshn)
n.
1.
a. The act or process of contaminating.
b. The state of being contaminated.
2. One that contaminates.

contamination [kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən]
n
1. the act or process of contaminating or the state of being contaminated
2. something that contaminates
3. (Linguistics) Linguistics the process by which one word or phrase is altered because of mistaken associations with another word or phrase; for example, the substitution of irregardless for regardless by association with such words as irrespective

1. The deposit, absorption, or adsorption of radioactive material, or of biological or chemical agents on or by structures, areas, personnel, or objects. See also fallout; induced radiation; residual radiation.
2. (DOD only) Food and/or water made unfit for consumption by humans or animals because of the presence of environmental chemicals, radioactive elements, bacteria or organisms, the byproduct of the growth of bacteria or organisms, the decomposing material (to include the food substance itself), or waste in the food or water.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.contaminationcontamination - the state of being contaminated      
impureness, impurity - the condition of being impure
dust contamination - state of being contaminated with dust
2.contamination - a substance that contaminates
material, stuff - the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object; "coal is a hard black material"; "wheat is the stuff they use to make bread"
3.contamination - the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors
dirtying, soiling, soilure - the act of soiling something
dust contamination - the act of contaminating with dust particles
decontamination - the removal of contaminants

contamination
noun pollution, dirtying, infection, corruption, poisoning, decay, taint, filth, impurity, contagion, adulteration, foulness, defilement Acid rain is responsible for the destruction of forests and the contamination of rivers and streams.
Translations
contamination [kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən] Ncontaminación f
contamination [kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən] n [land, water, food] → contamination f
contamination
n no plVerunreinigung f, → Verschmutzung f; (by poison) → Vergiftung f; (by radioactivity) → Verseuchung f, → Kontaminierung f (spec); (= substance)Giftstoffe pl; (fig)schädlicher Einfluss (→ of auf +acc)
contamination [kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn] ncontaminazione f
contamination [kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn] ncontaminazione f


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
He was going to be a clergyman, and it was necessary that he should be preserved from contamination.
He uttered a clucking noise in advertisement of his friendliness, and Michael snarled at this black who had dared to lay hands upon him--a contamination, according to Michael's training--and who now dared to address him who associated only with white gods.
she said, in a voice scarce louder than a whisper, but with a tone of startling vehemence, and, seizing the boy, she snatched him from me, as if some dire contamination were in my touch, and then stood with one hand firmly clasping his, the other on his shoulder, fixing upon me her large, luminous dark eyes - pale, breathless, quivering with agitation.
 
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