impregnate

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

/ verb ɪmˈprɛg neɪt, ˈɪm prɛgˌneɪt; adjective ɪmˈprɛg nɪt, -neɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: impregnate / impregnated / impregnation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), im·preg·nat·ed, im·preg·nat·ing.

to make pregnant; get with child or young.

to cause to be infused or permeated throughout, as with a substance; saturate: to impregnate a handkerchief with cheap perfume.

to fill interstices with a substance.

to furnish with some actuating or modifying element infused or introduced; imbue; infect; tincture.

adjective

impregnated.

SYNONYMS FOR impregnate

3 permeate, infuse, penetrate.

See synonyms for impregnate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of impregnate

First recorded in 1535–45; from Late Latin impraegnātus, past participle of impraegnāre “to fertilize, impregnate,” equivalent to im- variant of prefix in- “in” + praegn-, stem of praegnās “pregnant, with child” + -ātus past participle suffix; see origin at im-¹, pregnant¹,-ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM impregnate

im·preg·na·tion, nounim·preg·na·tor, nounim·preg·na·to·ry

[im-preg-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ɪmˈprɛg nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivenon·im·preg·nat·ed, adjective

re·im·preg·nate, verb (used with object), re·im·preg·nat·ed, re·im·preg·nat·ing.re·im·preg·na·tion, nounself-im·preg·nat·ed, adjectiveself-im·preg·nat·ing, adjectiveself-im·preg·na·tion, nounself-im·preg·na·tor, nounun·im·preg·nat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for impregnate

I wish that there was space and the will to take these single-serving-use male cows and keep them alive after they’ve impregnated female cows and served their purpose.
Artisanal American Cheese Was Finally on Top of the World, and Then the World Fell Apart|Jaya Saxena|October 5, 2020|Eater
Question 9: If the female captive was impregnated by her owner, can he then sell her?
ISIS Jihadis Get ‘Slavery for Dummies’|Jamie Dettmer|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Despite the fact that they have been monkeying around for six months now, no female baboons have been impregnated.
Male Birth Control, Without Condoms, Will Be Here by 2017|Samantha Allen|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Tuesday night, the Thai military raided the IVF clinic where Chanbua was impregnated with Gammy and his twin.
The Wild, Wild West of Thai Surrogacy|Emily Shire|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At age 17, Schaeffer impregnated a young woman visiting the community.
Frank Schaeffer, the Atheist Who Believes in God|Nick Tabor|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mystery of Mary visited by the Angel Gabriel, and told that she would be impregnated by none other than the Spirit of God.
The True Gifts of Christmas Are Life, Love, and the Mystery of God|Joshua DuBois|December 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The currency evidently became impregnated with the odor of the cigars.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
More fiery than ever, she enfolded him in her arms, so that he was impregnated with a flame which he feebly resisted.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
At this period the alchemist is represented by his descendant as a Puritan impregnated with the secret doctrine of Robert Fludd.
Devil-Worship in France|Arthur Edward Waite
Between this and the village of the Pawnees we crossed two strongly impregnated salines.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3)|Elliott Coues
They appeared to be impregnated with copper, and were more than 33 above blood heat.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3)|Elliott Coues

British Dictionary definitions for impregnate

impregnate

verb (ˈɪmprɛɡˌneɪt) (tr)

to saturate, soak, or infuseto impregnate a cloth with detergent

to imbue or permeate; pervade

to cause to conceive; make pregnant

to fertilize (an ovum)

to make (land, soil, etc) fruitful

adjective (ɪmˈprɛɡnɪt, -ˌneɪt)

pregnant or fertilized

Derived forms of impregnate

impregnation, nounimpregnator, noun

Word Origin for impregnate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for impregnate

impregnate

[ ĭm-prĕg′nāt ]

v.

To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; inseminate.

To fertilize an ovum.

To fill throughout; saturate.

Other words from impregnate

im′preg•na′tion n.im•preg′na′tor n.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

impregnate