Contaminated
/kənˈtæməˌneɪtɪd/
adjectiveverbB2past participle, adjective
Definition
Contaminated describes something that has been made dirty or unsafe by adding harmful or unwanted things, like germs, chemicals, or dirt. This can happen to food, water, air, or surfaces, making them dangerous to use or consume.
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Made unsafe or impure by harmful substances
- •The water was contaminated with chemicals after the factory accident.
- •Contaminated food can cause food poisoning.
- •The soil became contaminated by toxic waste.
Infected or polluted with germs or dangerous materials
- •The hospital room was contaminated and needed cleaning.
- •Contaminated air can cause breathing problems.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "contaminated" like "dirty," but more serious because it means harmful things are inside or on it, not just visible dirt
- ✓Picture a glass of clean water turning cloudy and bad because someone put dirt or germs in it
- ✓It's the feeling when you realize your food might make you sick because it is contaminated
- ✓Sounds like "con-TAM-inated" → imagine "tam" as a tiny bad bug sneaking inside something good
- ✓Think of stories where a town’s water is contaminated, causing problems for everyone
- ✓NOT like "dirty" (which can be just dust or mud), "contaminated" means harmful or dangerous substances are present
- ✓NOT like "clean," which means free from dirt or harmful things
- ✓Contaminated usually happens because something outside or someone adds the harmful substance
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Polluted: made dirty or harmful, usually about air or water (Use when talking about environmental harm)
- •Infected: contaminated with germs or bacteria (Use when talking about living things or wounds)
- •Tainted: slightly contaminated or spoiled (Use when the contamination is not very strong or obvious)
- •Dirty: not clean (Use for simple messes without danger)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "con-" (together, with) + root: "taminate" from Latin "contaminare," meaning to make impure or pollute
- •Etymology: From Latin "contaminatus," past participle of "contaminare," meaning to touch or stain together, making something impure
- •First used in English in the 1600s to mean making something impure or dirty, especially by harmful substances
- •Today, used to describe objects, food, water, or places that have harmful or dangerous substances added
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do you know if something is contaminated if you cannot see or smell anything unusual?
•What are some ways people can prevent food or water from becoming contaminated in daily life?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The water became contaminated ___ the factory released chemicals nearby.
2.Contaminated food often causes people to feel ___ or sick.
3.Unlike dirty clothes, contaminated items may look clean but still ___ harmful substances.
4.After the flood, many homes were contaminated ___ bacteria and needed special cleaning.
5.People must be careful not to contaminate sterile medical tools by touching them with ___ hands.
6.The government tested the river because they suspected it was contaminated ___ industrial waste.
7.When food is contaminated, it should not be eaten because it can ___ illness.