impregnate

[ verb im-preg-neyt, im-preg-neyt; adjective im-preg-nit, -neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, im·preg·nat·ed, im·preg·nat·ing.

1. to make pregnant; cause to be with child or young.
2. to fertilize.
3. to cause to be permeated or saturated with a substance:

   To relieve cold and flu symptoms, impregnate a handkerchief with oils of eucalyptus and mint and inhale its scent.

   Synonyms: penetrate, infuse, permeate

4. to fill the interstices, openings, or cells of (a fine network, or the like) with a substance:

   The stainless steel housing contains a ceramic honeycomb impregnated with platinum, rhodium, and palladium.

5. to infuse or imbue with some quality or element:

   Picasso’s later paintings are impregnated with a certain melancholy.

   The air was pleasantly impregnated with the odor of pines.

adjective

1. impregnated ( def ).

impregnate

verb

1. to saturate, soak, or infuse

   to impregnate a cloth with detergent

2. to imbue or permeate; pervade
3. to cause to conceive; make pregnant
4. to fertilize (an ovum)
5. to make (land, soil, etc) fruitful

adjective

1. pregnant or fertilized

Derived Forms

• ˌimpregˈnation, noun
• imˈpregnator, noun

Other Words From

• im·preg·na·tion [im-preg-, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun
• im·preg·na·tor noun
• im·preg·na·to·ry [im-, preg, -n, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• re·im·preg·nate verb (used with object) reimpregnated reimpregnating
• re·im·preg·na·tion noun
• self-im·preg·nat·ing adjective
• self-im·preg·na·tion noun
• self-im·preg·na·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impregnate¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Late Latin impraegnātus, past participle of impraegnāre “to fertilize, impregnate,” equivalent to im- im- ¹( def ) + praegn-, stem of praegnās, variant of praegnāns (stem praegnant-) “pregnant, with child” + -ātus past participle suffix; pregnant ¹( def ), -ate ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of impregnate¹

C17: from Late Latin impraegnāre to make pregnant, from Latin im- in- ² + praegnans pregnant

Example Sentences

Birenbaum-Carmeli also points to technology that means even a near-sterile man can now be assisted to impregnate his wife.

From The Daily Beast

Sex addiction is simply a new name for the old evolutionary concept—the innate urge to impregnate as many females as possible.

From The Daily Beast

He squeezes it between his fingers, in order to completely impregnate it and dries it.

From Project Gutenberg

Her remorseful grief, though silent, seemed to impregnate the atmosphere with its heaviness.

From Project Gutenberg

To impregnate these, a bunch of male flowers is carefully inserted and fastened in the calyx.

From Project Gutenberg

Impregnate the tissues with mucilage for twelve to twenty-four hours, according to size.

From Project Gutenberg

They can impregnate cloth and leather, nay, even paper and parchment, with the most subtle venom.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• drench
• fertilize
• inseminate
• permeate
• saturate
• suffuse