Con‐tam″i‐nate (kŏn‐tăm″ĭ‐nāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Contaminated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Contaminating (?).] [L. contaminatus, p. p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.] To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile.
Shall we now
Contaminate our figures with base bribes?
Shak.
I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated.
Goldsmith.
Syn. — To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.