Word Study
irrigate
CIDE DICTIONARY
irrigate, v. t. [L. irrigatus, p. p. of irrigare to irrigate: ir- in + rigare to water; prob. akin to E. rain. See Rain.].
- To water; to wet; to moisten with running or dropping water; to bedew. [1913 Webster]
- To water, as land, by causing a stream to flow upon, over, or through it, as in artificial channels. [1913 Webster]
- To rinse (a wound, infected area, etc.) with a flow or spray of a liquid. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
irrigate, v.tr.
1 a water (land) by means of channels. b (of a stream etc.) supply (land) with water.
2 Med. supply (a wound etc.) with a constant flow of liquid.
3 refresh as with moisture.
1 a water (land) by means of channels. b (of a stream etc.) supply (land) with water.
2 Med. supply (a wound etc.) with a constant flow of liquid.
3 refresh as with moisture.
Derivative
irrigable adj. irrigation n. irrigative adj. irrigator n.
Etymology
L irrigare (as IN-(2), rigare moisten)
THESAURUS
irrigate
adulterate, asperge, attenuate, baptize, bath, bathe, bedew, bespatter, besprinkle, cut, dabble, damp, dampen, dash, dew, dilute, douche, flush, flush out, gargle, holystone, hose, hose down, humect, humectate, humidify, lather, launder, lave, moisten, mop, mop up, paddle, rarefy, reduce, rinse, rinse out, ritually immerse, scour, scrub, scrub up, shampoo, shower, slobber, slop, slosh, sluice, sluice out, soap, sparge, spatter, splash, splatter, sponge, spray, sprinkle, swab, swash, syringe, thin, toivel, tub, wash, wash out, wash up, water, water down, wet, wet downROGET THESAURUS
irrigate
Water
VB be watery, reek, add water, water, wet, moisten, dilute, dip, immerse, merge, immerge, submerge, plunge, souse, duck, drown, soak, steep, macerate, pickle, wash, sprinkle, lave, bathe, affuse, splash, swash, douse, drench, dabble, slop, slobber, irrigate, inundate, deluge, syringe, inject, gargle.River
VB flow, run, meander, gush, pour, spout, roll, jet, well, issue, drop, drip, dribble, plash, spirtle, trill, trickle, distill, percolate, stream, overflow, inundate, deluge, flow over, splash, swash, guggle, murmur, babble, bubble, purl, gurgle, sputter, spurt, spray, regurgitate, ooze, flow out, rain hard, rain in torrents, rain cats and dogs, rain pitchforks, pour with rain, drizzle, spit, set in, mizzle, flow into, fall into, open into, drain into, discharge itself, disembogue, pour, pour out, shower down, irrigate, drench, spill, splash, stanch, dam, up, obstruct.For further exploring for "irrigate" in Webster Dictionary Online