make radioactive by adding radioactive material; "Don't drink the water--it's contaminated
If something is contaminated by dirt, chemicals, or radiation, they make it dirty or harmful. Have any fish been contaminated in the Arctic Ocean? vast tracts of empty land, much of it contaminated by years of army activity. + contaminated con·tami·nat·ed Nuclear weapons plants across the country are heavily contaminated with toxic wastes More than 100,000 people could fall ill after drinking contaminated water. + contamination con·tami·na·tion The contamination of the sea around Capri may be just the beginning
to make impure (not pure) by contact or addition of something; to pollute or soil
make radioactive by adding radioactive material; "Don't drink the water--it's contaminated"
to make something unpure, in waste this is when materials are mixed If glass or plastics are separate they are useful, but they contaminate organic matter so that it is does not produce good compost Food matter on the other hand contaminates glass or paper for recycling