B2 verb Formal

contamination

/kənˌtæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Contamination refers to the presence of unwanted or harmful substances that make something impure, dirty, or unfit for use. It is commonly used in scientific, environmental, and forensic contexts to describe the loss of purity through contact with a foreign element.

Exemplos

3 de 5
1

The contamination of the local pond by trash made it impossible to swim.

The polluting of the pond with garbage prevented people from swimming.

2

The authorities are investigating the potential contamination of the groundwater supply.

Officials are looking into the possible poisoning of the underground water sources.

3

There's some contamination in the lab sample, so we might have to start the test over.

The sample has been dirtied, so the test needs to be repeated.

Família de palavras

Substantivo
contamination
Verb
contaminate
Adjetivo
contaminated
Relacionado
contaminant
💡

Dica de memorização

Think of 'CON-TAM-ination' as 'Container Tampering'—someone tampered with the container and made the contents dirty.

Quiz rápido

The laboratory had to discard the results because of accidental _______ of the DNA samples.

Correto!

A resposta correta é: contamination

Exemplos

1

The contamination of the local pond by trash made it impossible to swim.

everyday

The polluting of the pond with garbage prevented people from swimming.

2

The authorities are investigating the potential contamination of the groundwater supply.

formal

Officials are looking into the possible poisoning of the underground water sources.

3

There's some contamination in the lab sample, so we might have to start the test over.

informal

The sample has been dirtied, so the test needs to be repeated.

4

Researchers found significant levels of chemical contamination in the soil samples collected near the factory.

academic

Scientists identified high amounts of toxic chemicals within the dirt taken from the industrial area.

5

The food processing plant was closed due to suspected bacterial contamination in the packaging area.

business

The factory shut down because they thought harmful bacteria had entered the packaging zone.

Família de palavras

Substantivo
contamination
Verb
contaminate
Adjetivo
contaminated
Relacionado
contaminant

Colocações comuns

environmental contamination the polluting of the natural world
cross-contamination spreading germs from one surface to another
bacterial contamination the presence of harmful bacteria
soil contamination toxic substances found in the ground
risk of contamination the chance that something will become impure

Frases Comuns

source of contamination

the origin of the polluting substance

avoid cross-contamination

taking steps to prevent the spread of germs between items

levels of contamination

the measured amount of impurities present

Frequentemente confundido com

contamination vs pollution

Pollution is a broad term for environmental damage; contamination specifically implies that a substance has become impure or dangerous due to a foreign additive.

contamination vs infection

Infection refers to the biological invasion of a living host by pathogens, whereas contamination refers to the presence of those pathogens on surfaces or in substances.

📝

Notas de uso

Use 'contamination' when discussing scientific samples, food safety, or environmental issues where a specific substance has made something else impure. It is often an uncountable noun.

⚠️

Erros comuns

Learners often use 'contaminate' as a noun; remember that 'contamination' is the noun form. Also, do not confuse it with 'contagion', which refers to the spread of disease.

💡

Dica de memorização

Think of 'CON-TAM-ination' as 'Container Tampering'—someone tampered with the container and made the contents dirty.

📖

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Latin 'contaminatio', meaning 'defilement' or 'corruption' through touch or contact.

Padrões gramaticais

Uncountable noun (though 'contaminations' can occur in plural in technical listing of types) Often followed by the preposition 'of' (e.g., contamination of the water) Frequently modified by nouns (e.g., lead contamination)
🌍

Contexto cultural

In modern society, this word is frequently seen in 'boil water' advisories or food recall news regarding E. coli or Salmonella.

Quiz rápido

The laboratory had to discard the results because of accidental _______ of the DNA samples.

Correto!

A resposta correta é: contamination

Palavras relacionadas

boned

B2

Primarily used as an adjective, 'boned' describes something that has a specific type of skeletal structure or a piece of meat from which the bones have been removed. In the context of garments, it refers to items reinforced with stiff strips, such as a corset, to maintain a specific shape.

boneyard

B2

A boneyard is a place where old, discarded, or obsolete items—typically large machinery like aircraft or vehicles—are stored or dismantled for parts. It is also an informal or regional term for a cemetery or burial ground.

bonfire

B2

A large, controlled outdoor fire lit for celebration, signaling, or to dispose of garden waste. It is typically much larger than a standard campfire and is often the centerpiece of a social or cultural event.

bongo

B2

To play the bongo drums or to strike a surface rhythmically and repeatedly with the fingers or palms. In academic or technical contexts, it often refers to the specific percussive action used in ethnomusicology or the observation of rhythmic motor patterns in behavioral studies.

bonito

B2

A bonito is a medium-sized, predatory marine fish belonging to the Scombridae family, which also includes tuna and mackerel. In culinary contexts, it is most famous for being dried, fermented, and smoked to create flakes used in Japanese stocks and seasonings.

bonkers

B2

An informal adjective used to describe someone or something that is crazy, insane, or highly eccentric. It can refer to a person's mental state, a chaotic situation, or an idea that seems completely absurd or wild.

bonny

B2

An adjective primarily used in British and Scottish English to describe someone, especially a woman or child, who is physically attractive, healthy, and cheerful. It conveys a sense of natural beauty combined with a robust or wholesome appearance.

bonsai

B2

Relating to the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers through careful pruning and wiring. When used as an adjective, it describes plants or objects that have been miniaturized or styled according to these aesthetic principles.

bony

B2

Describes someone or a part of the body that is very thin, allowing the underlying bone structure to be seen or felt. It also refers to anything made of or resembling bone, particularly in biological or anatomical contexts.

boo

B2

In informal contexts, 'boo' can be used as an adjective to describe something that is disappointing, poor in quality, or undesirable. It is more commonly recognized as a sound of disapproval or a slang term of endearment, but its use as a descriptor for 'bad' is found in specific colloquial dialects.

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