saturate

[sach-uh-reyt, sach-er-it, -uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

saturated, saturating 

1. to cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance, through solution, chemical combination, or the like.

2. to charge to the utmost, as with magnetism.

3. to soak, impregnate, or imbue thoroughly or completely.

   to saturate a sponge with water; a town saturated with charm.

4. to destroy (a target) completely with bombs and missiles.

5. to send so many planes over (a target area) that the defensive electronic tracking equipment becomes ineffective.

6. to furnish (a market) with goods to its full purchasing capacity.

verb (used without object)

saturated, saturating 

1. to become saturated.

adjective

1. saturated.

noun

1. a saturated fat or fatty acid.

saturate

verb

1. to fill, soak, or imbue totally

2. to make (a chemical compound, vapour, solution, magnetic material, etc) saturated or (of a compound, vapour, etc) to become saturated

3. (tr) military to bomb or shell heavily

adjective

1. a less common word for saturated

Other Word Forms

• desaturate verb (used with object)
• oversaturate verb (used with object)
• saturater noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of saturate¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin saturātus (past participle of saturāre “to fill”), equivalent to satur- “full, well-fed” ( sad ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of saturate¹

C16: from Latin saturāre, from satur sated, from satis enough

Synonym Study

See wet.

Example Sentences

Morgan and her cinematographer Nick Matthews make the location fun to look at, with a saturated color palette and clever camera movements.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, these oils contain a low amount - 5-10% - of unhealthy saturated fats and are high in healthier mono- and polyunsaturated fats.

From BBC

With a knife I spread it thick and thin as I went, saving the saturated center for last.

From Salon

In 2010, Congress passed the Hunger-Free Kids Act, which prohibited whole milk in school lunches due to concerns that saturated fat and high calories were contributing to a slew of health problems in children.

From Salon

Some believe it will put more eyes on tennis in an ever-competitive and increasingly saturated market.

From BBC

Related Words

• douse 
• imbue 
• immerse 
• impregnate 
• infuse 
• penetrate 
• permeate 
• pervade 
• soak 
• steep 
• suffuse 
• wash