[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/impregnate/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [I](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/i/) / impregnate

# impregnate

verb (impregnate, impregnates, impregnated, impregnating)

«impregnate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To soak or fill something completely with a substance: wood impregnated with oil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#m1)
2. (biology) To make a female animal pregnant, so that a baby starts to grow inside her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and design-technology lessons, materials are impregnated with chemicals to make them waterproof, fireproof or longer-lasting (fence posts soaked in preservative). In biology about animals, it means fertilising so that young will grow. Phrases: impregnated with, impregnate wood.

### Examples

- The fence posts were impregnated with a chemical to stop them rotting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#x1)
- The cloth was impregnated with wax to make it waterproof. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#x2)
- The bandage is impregnated with antiseptic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#x3)
- The air was impregnated with the smell of smoke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#x4)
- Farmers keep the bull separate until they want the cows impregnated. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#x5)
- The matches are impregnated with a chemical that helps them light. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/#x6)

### Note

The «soak/fill» sense is the one met most in school and science. Noun: «impregnation». The adjective «pregnant» is related to the second sense only. Pronounced IM-preg-nate.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «impregnate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/impregnate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«impregnate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/impregnate.html) on Mova free.