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to oversaturate

to oversaturate

6.7
Add so much of a substance that it cannot take any more
  • verb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈsætʃəˌreɪt/
translation icon : sobresaturar
  • Don't oversaturate the mixture!

Examples

  • Photographers must be careful not to oversaturate colors in their images.

  • Adding too much sugar can oversaturate the solution and cause crystals to form.

  • If you oversaturate the soil with water, the plants may not survive.

  • He oversaturates the soil with water.

  • If you oversaturate the soil with water, the plants may drown.

  • Adding too much paint can oversaturate the canvas, making the colors look overwhelming.

  • To prevent the solution from becoming ineffective, avoid oversaturating it with salt.

Synonyms

to saturate
vsto oversaturate
55 5.2

Make something so full of liquid or color that it can take no more

is the same meaning but stresses adding so much that dissolving stops
to impregnate
vsto oversaturate
3 7.4

To fill something completely with a liquid or chemical

adds so much that no more can be absorbed rather than just infusing
to supersaturate
vsto oversaturate
  • Specialized
1 8.2

To add more dissolved material to a liquid so it holds more than normal and may form crystals

adds until no more can be absorbed rather than exceeding normal capacity
to overconcentrate
vsto oversaturate
1 7.6

Make a liquid or mix too strong by adding too much of something

focuses on filling absorption capacity rather than just raising strength
to waterlog
vsto oversaturate
3.7

To fill something with water so it cannot take any more

means the same soaking but applies to any substance not only water

How Saturated

to oversaturate
6.7
to saturate
55 5.2
to wet
26 1.0
to moisten
7 3.0

Surface Forms

oversaturate infinitive
oversaturated past participle
oversaturating present participle
oversaturates third person singular

Morphology

oversaturate = saturate (transparent) = over + saturate

The verb is formed by prefixing 'over-' (meaning 'excessively') to the verb 'saturate', yielding the literal sense 'saturate excessively'.

Etymology

The word oversaturate joins over- 'too much' and saturate 'to fill', like a saturated sponge that cannot take more water. So to oversaturate soil is to make it so full of water that it cannot absorb any more, which can harm plants.