the act of contaminating.

the state of being contaminated.

something that contaminates.

Linguistics .

an alternation in a linguistic form due to the influence of a related form, as the replacement in English of earlier femelle with female through the influence of male.

the process of forming blends. Compare blend ( def. 9 ) .

noun

cleaning , cure , healing , purification , sterilization

noun

contagion , corruption , decay , defilement , dirtying , disease , epidemic , filth , foulness , impurity , infection , pestilence , plague , poisoning , pollution , radioactivation , rottenness , spoliation , taint , adulteration , sophistication , adulterant , adulterator , contaminator , poison , pollutant