(of a solution or solvent) containing the maximum amount of solute that can normally be dissolved at a given temperature and pressure
See also supersaturated- (of a chemical compound)
containing no multiple bonds and thus being incapable of undergoing additional reactions: a saturated hydrocarbon containing no unpaired valence electrons (of a fat, esp an animal fat) containing a high proportion of fatty acids having single bonds
See also polyunsaturated, unsaturated(of a vapour) containing the equilibrium amount of gaseous material at a given temperature and pressure
See also supersaturated(of a magnetic material) fully magnetized extremely wet; soaked
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
sat•u•rate /v. ˈsætʃəˌreɪt; adj., n. -ərɪt, -əˌreɪt/USA pronunciation
v., -rat•ed, -rat•ing, adj.
v.
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025v.
- Electricity, to fill as much as possible:[~ + object]The smell of fresh-brewed coffee saturated the tiny apartment.
- to (cause to) become thoroughly wet: [~ + object]The rain saturated the fields.[no object]That substance saturates when liquid is poured on it.
adj.
- filled with something.
sat•u•rat•ed
(sach′ə rā′tid),USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- soaked, impregnated, or imbued thoroughly;
charged thoroughly or completely;
brought to a state of saturation. - Optics(of colors) of maximum chroma or purity;
of the highest intensity of hue;
free from admixture of white. - Chemistry
- (of a solution) containing the maximum amount of solute capable of being dissolved under given conditions.
- Chemistry(of an organic compound) containing no double or triple bonds;
having each single bond attached to an atom or group. - Chemistry(of an inorganic compound) having no free valence electrons.
- saturate + -ed2 1660–70
sat•u•rate
(v. sach′ə rāt′;adj., n. sach′ər it, -ə rāt′),USA pronunciation v., -rat•ed, -rat•ing, adj., n.
v.t.
v.i.
adj.
n.
v.t.
- Chemistryto cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance, through solution, chemical combination, or the like.
- Electricityto charge to the utmost, as with magnetism.
- to soak, impregnate, or imbue thoroughly or completely:to saturate a sponge with water; a town saturated with charm.
- to destroy (a target) completely with bombs and missiles.
- to send so many planes over (a target area) that the defensive electronic tracking equipment becomes ineffective.
- Businessto furnish (a market) with goods to its full purchasing capacity.
v.i.
- to become saturated.
adj.
- saturated.
n.
- Nutritiona saturated fat or fatty acid.
- Latin saturātus (past participle of saturāre to fill), equivalent. to satur- full, well-fed (see sad) + -ātus -ate1
- 1530–40
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See wet.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- (transitive)
to fill, soak, or imbue totally to make (a chemical compound, vapour, solution, magnetic material, etc) saturated or (of a compound, vapour, etc) to become saturated - (transitive)
to bomb or shell heavily
- a less common word for saturated