The word "adulterate" [əˈdʌltəreɪt] is a verb that means to make something impure or weaker by adding inferior or lesser substances to it. The spelling of the word is straightforward, with seven letters that match the pronunciation of the word. The first syllable is stressed and pronounced as schwa [ə], followed by a clear [d], [ʌ], [l] and [t]. The final syllable, "-erate," is pronounced as [əreɪt], with a long [eɪ] sound and an unstressed [ə] sound.
Adulterate is a verb that is used to describe the act of making something impure or weaker by adding foreign or inferior substances to it. This term is commonly associated with food, drinks, or drugs that have been tampered with in a way that lowers their quality, safety, or efficacy. When a substance is adulterated, it means that it has been contaminated or diluted with other substances, often with the intention of deceiving consumers or maximizing profits.
The practice of adulterating goods is generally considered unethical and illegal in many jurisdictions, as it can pose serious health risks to the public and undermine consumer trust in the integrity of products. Adulteration can involve various methods, such as mixing a genuine product with cheaper or hazardous ingredients, diluting a substance to increase its volume without regard for its potency, or failing to disclose certain undesirable components or impurities.
Detecting and preventing adulteration is an ongoing challenge for regulatory bodies, as unscrupulous individuals or businesses may find ways to bypass safety standards and quality controls. Sophisticated testing methods and regulations are employed to ensure that products undergo rigorous inspection to ascertain their authenticity and purity. The penalties for adulterating goods can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the magnitude of the offense, ranging from fines to criminal charges.
In summary, adulterate refers to corrupting or contaminating a substance or product by adding inferior or foreign substances, often with the intent to deceive or defraud consumers.
To deteriorate by adding material of inferior quality, or indifferent material which increases the bulk without altering, otherwise than weakening, the action.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
To corrupt; to make impure by a base mixture.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "adulterate" comes from the Latin verb "adulterare", which means "to falsify" or "to corrupt". This Latin term is derived from the combination of "ad", meaning "to" or "towards", and "alter", meaning "other" or "different". Therefore, "adulterate" originally referred to the act of making something inferior or impure by adding something different or foreign to it. The term gradually evolved in English, retaining its meaning of corrupting or impurifying something by adding inferior or improper elements.