irrigate

[ ir-i-geyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ir·ri·gat·ed, ir·ri·gat·ing.

1. to supply (land) with water by artificial means, as by diverting streams, flooding, or spraying.
2. Medicine/Medical. to supply or wash (an orifice, wound, etc.) with a spray or a flow of some liquid.
3. to moisten; wet.

irrigate

/ ˈɪrɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to supply (land) with water by means of artificial canals, ditches, etc, esp to promote the growth of food crops
2. med to bathe or wash out a bodily part, cavity, or wound
3. tr to make fertile, fresh, or vital by or as if by watering

Derived Forms

• ˌirriˈgation, noun
• ˌirriˈgational, adjective
• ˈirriˌgator, noun
• ˈirrigable, adjective

Other Words From

• irri·gator noun
• non·irri·gated adjective
• non·irri·gating adjective
• over·irri·gate verb (used with object) overirrigated overirrigating
• re·irri·gate verb (used with object) reirrigated reirrigating
• un·irri·gated adjective
• well-irri·gated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of irrigate¹

1605–15; < Latin irrigātus, past participle of irrigāre to wet, flood, nourish with water, equivalent to ir- ir- ¹ + rigā- (stem of rigāre to provide with water, soak) + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of irrigate¹

C17: from Latin irrigāre, from rigāre to moisten, conduct water

Example Sentences

"Because we don't put a value on water, you can irrigate and not pay much at all for the water that you're using," said Kuzma, who runs the water data program at WRI.

From Salon

“We still need to see if the program impacts our yields in the following months. We can use this time to apply fertilizer or compost and hopefully have strong plant stands when we irrigate again,” Miller said.

From Los Angeles Times

So volunteers wrapped many of the plants in chicken wire and shade cloth for protection and carried in water to irrigate the survivors.

From Los Angeles Times

Margaret and Phil’s happiness about their yard dimmed after they got their first water bill — roughly $3,000 for two months — and discovered they had used nearly 108,000 gallons of water during that time, mostly to irrigate their lawn.

From Los Angeles Times

Farms in the area depend on groundwater to irrigate hay, corn, grapes, almonds, pistachios, oranges and other crops.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inundate
• soak