English Dictionary

MACULATE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does maculate mean? 

MACULATE (adjective)
  The adjective MACULATE has 2 senses:

1. morally blemished; stained or impureplay

2. spotted or blotchedplay

  Familiarity information: MACULATE used as an adjective is rare.


MACULATE (verb)
  The verb MACULATE has 2 senses:

1. make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphoricallyplay

2. spot, stain, or polluteplay

  Familiarity information: MACULATE used as a verb is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


MACULATE (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Morally blemished; stained or impure

Synonyms:

defiled; maculate

Similar:

impure ((used of persons or behaviors) immoral or obscene)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Spotted or blotched

Similar:

dirty; soiled; unclean (soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime)


MACULATE (verb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

defile; maculate; stain; sully; tarnish

Context example:

Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man

Hypernyms (to "maculate" is one way to...):

blob; blot; fleck; spot (make a spot or mark onto)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "maculate"):

darken (tarnish or stain)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

macula (a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases)

maculation (the act of spotting or staining something)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Spot, stain, or pollute

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

befoul; defile; foul; maculate

Context example:

The townspeople defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it

Hypernyms (to "maculate" is one way to...):

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

macula (a patch of skin that is discolored but not usually elevated; caused by various diseases)

maculation (the act of spotting or staining something)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
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