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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Adulterate \A*dul"ter*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Adulterated};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Adulterating}.] [L. adulteratus, p. p. of
adulterare, fr. adulter adulterer, prob. fr. ad alter
other, properly one who approaches another on account of
unlawful love. Cf. {Advoutry}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To defile by adultery. [Obs.] --Milton.
[1913 Webster]

2. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of a
foreign or a baser substance; as, to adulterate food,
drink, drugs, coin, etc.
[1913 Webster]

The present war has . . . adulterated our tongue
with strange words. --Spectator.
[1913 Webster]

Syn: To corrupt; defile; debase; contaminate; vitiate;
sophisticate.
[1913 Webster]


adulterated \adulterated\ adj.
1. having been made impure by addition of inferior
ingredients; -- said of substances or foods

Note: used ususally of articles of commerce, dulted with less
costly materials so as to enhance profit; -- usually
imlying that the dilution is surreptitious and
unethical

Syn: adulterate, debased
[WordNet 1.5]