verb
irrigate
IH-ruh-gayt
Irrigate (verb) means to supply land with water using channels, pipes, or sprinklers so crops can grow. Example: “Farmers irrigate the fields from the river during the dry season.”
verb
1
To supply land with water using channels, pipes, or sprinklers so crops can grow.
"Farmers irrigate the fields from the river during the dry season."
"The valley's crops are irrigated by an ancient canal system."
2
(medicine) To rinse a wound or body cavity with a flow of liquid to clean it.
"The nurse irrigated the wound with a saline solution."
How to use irrigate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bring water to land or to a wound, either to help things grow or to clean it.
Common pairings
irrigate the fields
irrigate a wound
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- irrigates
- Past tense
- irrigated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farmers _____ the fields from the river during the dry season.
Etymology
From Latin irrigatus, the past participle of irrigare, "to water" or "flood."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for irrigate
See all rhymes for irrigate →Frequently asked questions
What does “irrigate” mean?
The word “irrigate” means to supply land with water using channels, pipes, or sprinklers so crops can grow. In plain terms, to bring water to land or to a wound, either to help things grow or to clean it.
How do you pronounce “irrigate”?
“Irrigate” is pronounced IH-ruh-gayt (/ˈɪɹəˌɡeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “irrigate” in a sentence?
Here is “irrigate” used in a sentence: “Farmers irrigate the fields from the river during the dry season.”
What part of speech is “irrigate”?
“Irrigate” is a verb.
Where does the word “irrigate” come from?
The word “irrigate” comes from Latin. From Latin irrigatus, the past participle of irrigare, "to water" or "flood.".
How many meanings does “irrigate” have?
“Irrigate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to supply land with water using channels, pipes, or sprinklers so crops can grow.
