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 ]

v. i. To commit adultery. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tainted with adultery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Debased by the admixture of a foreign substance; adulterated; spurious. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- A*dul"ter*ate*ly, adv. -- A*dul"ter*ate*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

adj. 1. making impure or corrupt by virtue of extraneous origin; -- of impurities. the adulterating effect of extraneous materials purifying
Syn. -- adulterant [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. making impure or corrupt by adding extraneous materials; -- of people.
Syn. -- adulterant. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. adulteratio. ] 1. The act of adulterating; corruption, or debasement (esp. of food or drink) by foreign mixture. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shameless adulteration of the coin. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An adulterated state or product. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who adulterates or corrupts. [ R. ] Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]