impregnate

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

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.

Origin of impregnate

1535–45; < Late Latin impraegnātus past participle of impraegnāre to fertilize, impregnate, equivalent to im- im-1 + praegn- (see pregnant1) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM impregnate

Example sentences from the Web for impregnation

British Dictionary definitions for impregnation

impregnate

verb (ˈɪmprɛɡˌneɪt) (tr)

to saturate, soak, or infuse to 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, noun impregnator, noun

Word Origin for impregnate

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

Medical definitions for impregnation

impregnate
[ ĭm-prĕgnāt ]

v.

To make pregnant; to cause to conceive; inseminate.
To fertilize an ovum.
To fill throughout; saturate.

Other words from impregnate

im′preg•nation n. im•pregna′tor n.