impregnate

Verb

impregnate (third-person singular simple present impregnates, present participle impregnating, simple past and past participle impregnated)

1. (transitive) To cause to become pregnant.
   • I was impregnated at a clinic but don't know who the sperm donor is.
   • A speech impregnated with references to the Constitution.

   Synonyms:

   knock up, inseminate, cover

2. (transitive) To fertilize.
3. (transitive) To saturate, or infuse.
   • To Tartarize, ta²r'ta⁴r-i¹ze, v. a.
     To impregnate with tartar.1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 498
   • We find those charæ which secrete the largest quantity of calcareous matter in their stems to abound near springs impregnated with carbonate of lime.1835, Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology […] , 4th edition, volume III, London: John Murray, Book IV, page 322
4. (transitive) To fill pores or spaces with a substance.
   • It takes a little time for the personal fatty acids to impregnate new shoes or boots, but from the scent point of view leather is a sponge, and the personal scent is left.1937, Hugh Bertie Campbell Pollard, The mystery of scent, page 121
5. (dated, intransitive) To become pregnant.
   • Were they, like Spanish Jennets, to impregnate by the Wind, they could not have thought on a more proper Invention.1711–1714, [Joseph Addison], The Spectator, number (please specify the issue number); republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume (please either specify the...

Adjective

IPA/ˈɪmprɛɡnət/

impregnate (comparative more impregnate, superlative most impregnate)

1. (obsolete, rare) Impregnated (all senses).
2. (obsolete, rare) Pregnant, with child.
3. (figuratively, obsolete, rare) Rendered fruitful, prolific.
4. (obsolete, rare) Imbued, saturated, permeated or filled with.
   • There Juno stopped, and, her fair steeds unloosed,
     Of air condensed a vapour circumfused:
     For these, impregnate with celestial dew,
     On Simoïs' brink ambrosial herbage grew.1715-20, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, book V. v.968
5. (obsolete, rare, mistakenly) Impregnable.