verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈɪɹəˌɡeɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH1 R AH0 G EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To supply (farmland) with water, by building ditches, pipes, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
We need to irrigate the land before we plant the crops.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To clean (a wound) with a fluid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The nurse will show you how to irrigate the wound to prevent infection.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
supply with a constant flow or sprinkling of some liquid, for the purpose of cooling, cleansing, or disinfecting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
irrigate the wound
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: treat, care for
4
verb
Meaning 4
supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Water the fields
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: water
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: wet
Narrower terms: hose, hose down, flush, hush
History
Etymology
First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin irrigātus, perfect passive participle of irrigō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). See also Middle English irrigat(e) (“watered, irrigated”).
Across languages
Translations
50 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Albanian:
ujit
— to supply farmland with water
Armenian:
ոռոգել
(oṙogel)
— to supply farmland with water
Bulgarian:
поливам
(polivam)
— to supply farmland with water
Bulgarian:
напоявам
(napojavam)
— to supply farmland with water
Catalan:
irrigar
— to supply farmland with water
Chinese Mandarin:
灌溉
(guàngài)
— to supply farmland with water
Czech:
zavlažovat
— to supply farmland with water
Danish:
vande
— to supply farmland with water
Esperanto:
akvumi
— to supply farmland with water
Estonian:
niisutama
— to supply farmland with water
Finnish:
kastella
— to supply farmland with water
French:
irriguer
— to supply farmland with water
Galician:
irrigar
— to supply farmland with water
German:
bewässern
— to supply farmland with water
Ancient Greek:
ἄρδω
(árdō)
— to supply farmland with water
Irish:
uiscigh
— to supply farmland with water
Central Kurdish:
داشتِن
(daştin)
— to supply farmland with water
Latin:
irrigō
— to supply farmland with water
Manx:
ushtee
— to supply farmland with water
Māori:
whakamākūkū
— to supply farmland with water
Māori:
hāwaiwai
— to supply farmland with water
Occitan:
irrigar
— to supply farmland with water
Polish:
nawodnić
— to supply farmland with water
Polish:
nawadniać
— to supply farmland with water
Polish:
zrosić
— to supply farmland with water
Polish:
zraszać
— to supply farmland with water
Portuguese:
irrigar
— to supply farmland with water
Romanian:
iriga
— to supply farmland with water
Russian:
ороша́ть
(orošátʹ)
— to supply farmland with water
Russian:
ороси́ть
(orosítʹ)
— to supply farmland with water
Russian:
ирриги́ровать
(irrigírovatʹ)
— to supply farmland with water
Slovene:
namakati
— to supply farmland with water
Spanish:
irrigar
— to supply farmland with water
Swahili:
mwagilia
— to supply farmland with water
Swedish:
bevattna
— to supply farmland with water
Swedish:
konstbevattna
— to supply farmland with water
Ukrainian:
зро́шувати
(zróšuvaty)
— to supply farmland with water
Ukrainian:
зроси́ти
(zrosýty)
— to supply farmland with water
Vietnamese:
tưới tiêu
— to supply farmland with water
Bulgarian:
промивам
(promivam)
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Catalan:
irrigar
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Chinese Mandarin:
沖洗 /冲洗
(chōngxǐ)
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Esperanto:
akvumi
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Finnish:
puhdistaa haava nesteellä
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Polish:
przemyć
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Polish:
przemywać
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Russian:
промыва́ть
(promyvátʹ)
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Russian:
промы́ть
(promýtʹ)
— to clean a wound with a fluid
Russian:
спринцева́ть
(sprincevátʹ)
— to clean a wound with a fluid
