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impregnate

[ verb im-preg-neyt, im-preg-neyt; adjective im-preg-nit, -neyt ]
/ verb ɪmˈprɛg neɪt, ˈɪm prɛgˌneɪt; adjective ɪmˈprɛg nɪt, -neɪt /
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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 fertilize.
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.
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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to impregnate

drench, fertilize, inseminate, permeate, saturate, suffuse, charge, conceive, fecundate, imbrue, implant, inoculate, leaven, overflow, percolate, pervade, procreate, produce, reproduce, seethe

How to use impregnate in a sentence

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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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