Skip to main content
to oversaturate

to oversaturate

1 6.7
Add so much of a substance that it cannot take any more
  • verb
  • /ˌoʊvərˈsætʃəˌreɪt/
: 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
8 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 waterlog
vsto oversaturate
1 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
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

How Saturated

to oversaturate
1 6.7
to saturate
8 5.2
to wet
27 1.0
to moisten
15 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.