A‐dul″ter‐ate (�), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Adulterated (�); p. pr. & vb. n.Adulterating (�).] [L. adulteratus, p. p. of adulterare, fr. adulter adulterer, prob. fr. ad + alter other, properly one who approaches another on account of unlawful love. Cf. Advoutry.]
1. To defile by adultery. Milton.
2. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of a foreign or a baser substance; as, to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coin, etc.
The present war has... adulterated our tongue with strange words.
Spectator.
Syn. — To corrupt; defile; debase; contaminate; vitiate; sophisticate.