Skip to main content

fumigateto disinfect or purify an area by using smoke, gas, or vapor to kill harmful insects, bacteria, or other pests

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to disinfect or purify an area by using smoke, gas, or vapor to kill harmful insects, bacteria, or other pests

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfjuːmɪɡeɪt/

Example Sentences

  • The cruise ship had to fumigate every cabin after discovering a cockroach colony in the kitchen.
  • My landlord decided to fumigate the apartment, so I'm temporarily living with my cat at my mom's place.
  • The grain storage facility must be fumigated regularly to prevent insect damage.

fumigate

VERB

[/ˈfjuːmɪɡeɪt/]

to disinfect or purify an area by using smoke, gas, or vapor to kill harmful insects, bacteria, or other pests

Workers in suits fumigate the old warehouse to kill every last termite.
💡 Concept

Workers in suits fumigate the old warehouse to kill every last termite.

Fumigate the space, navigate the maze, investigate the case!
🎵 Rhyme

Fumigate the space, navigate the maze, investigate the case!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈfjuːmɪɡeɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈfjuːmɪɡeɪt/

🌳Etymology

Rootfumig
Suffix--ate

Origin

The word derives from Latin, where it originated from the practice of ancient Romans purifying their homes by burning incense and aromatic substances. The Latin root refers to the act of producing smoke, and the term evolved to describe the process of disinfecting spaces through fumigation.

Breakdown

fumigatus (past participle of Latin fumigare, meaning 'to smoke' or 'to fumigate') + -ate (verbal suffix forming verbs from Latin adjectives or participles).

🎵Rhyme

navigateinvestigatemitigate
navigate
investigate
mitigate

🔗Collocations

fumigate a building
fumigate against pests
properly fumigate
fumigate the warehouse
fumigate with chemicals

📝Examples

The cruise ship had to fumigate every cabin after discovering a cockroach colony in the kitchen.

😄 Fun example

My landlord decided to fumigate the apartment, so I'm temporarily living with my cat at my mom's place.

The grain storage facility must be fumigated regularly to prevent insect damage.

😄 Fun example

After finding termites, they had to fumigate the entire house and camp in the backyard for three days.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

disinfectsterilizepurifydecontaminatesanitize

Antonyms

contaminateinfectpollute

Related

pesticideexterminatespraychemicalpest control

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.