Contamination
kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən
Definitions
The presence of a substance or agent that makes something impure or harmful.
kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən
The act of making something impure or unsuitable by contact or addition of a polluting substance.
The water supply was threatened by chemical contamination.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite food gets something icky on it that makes it unsafe to eat. That's contamination! It's like when a toy gets covered in dirt or germs. It's not clean anymore and could even make you sick.
👶 For kids: When something gets dirty or has yucky stuff mixed in.
More Examples
The investigation focused on the source of the contamination.
Proper procedures are necessary to prevent sample contamination in the lab.
How It's Used
"Soil contamination from industrial waste can harm plant life."
"The risk of bacterial contamination is a major concern in hospitals."
"Preventing cross-contamination is essential in food preparation."
Idioms & expressions
Cross-contamination
The transfer of harmful bacteria or other microorganisms from one substance or object to another, with harmful or undesirable effect.
"To prevent cross-contamination, use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables."
From Latin contaminatio, meaning 'a defilement or pollution', derived from the verb contaminare, 'to pollute, defile,' which likely combines con- (intensive prefix) with tangere ('to touch').
The term has been used since the 15th century, primarily in religious contexts to describe a defilement of a sacred place or object. Its application expanded over time to cover environmental and scientific fields.
Memory tip
Think of a container (cont-) that is touched (tangere, Latin root) and made impure.