irrigate

American  

[ir-i-geyt] / ˈɪr ɪˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

irrigated, irrigating

1. to supply (land) with water by artificial means, as by diverting streams, flooding, or spraying.

2. Medicine/Medical. to supply or wash (an orifice, wound, etc.) with a spray or a flow of some liquid.

3. to moisten; wet.

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irrigate British  

/ ˈɪrɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to supply (land) with water by means of artificial canals, ditches, etc, esp to promote the growth of food crops

2. med to bathe or wash out a bodily part, cavity, or wound

3. (tr) to make fertile, fresh, or vital by or as if by watering

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Other Word Forms

• irrigable adjective
• irrigation noun
• irrigational adjective
• irrigator noun
• nonirrigated adjective
• nonirrigating adjective
• overirrigate verb (used with object)
• reirrigate verb (used with object)
• unirrigated adjective
• well-irrigated adjective

Etymology

Origin of irrigate

1605–15; < Latin irrigātus, past participle of irrigāre to wet, flood, nourish with water, equivalent to ir- ir- ¹ + rigā- (stem of rigāre to provide with water, soak) + -tus past participle suffix

Example Sentences

Fondomonte, part of the Saudi dairy giant Almarai, is by far the largest water user in the area, using dozens of wells to to irrigate alfalfa that it ships overseas to the Middle East.

From Los Angeles Times

It was in that position, in the early aughts, that Bonham first became immersed in the fierce disagreement over what to do with scarce water in the Klamath Basin — irrigate farms or protect salmon.

From Los Angeles Times

But syrup producers do not plant, irrigate, fertilize or use insecticides on their self-sufficient forests.

From The Wall Street Journal

The property features three creeks that “meander through the ranch for over five miles,” as well as irrigated meadows and “historic water rights irrigating 1,200 acres.”

From MarketWatch

He had the cost of irrigating twice more over the summer due to prolonged hot weather.

From BBC

Related Words

• inundate
• soak