Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural im·pu·ri·ties for 2.
- the quality or state of being impure.
- Often impurities. something that is or makes impure: After the flood the authorities warned against impurities in the drinking water.
noun plural -ties
- the quality of being impure
- an impure thing, constituent, or elementimpurities in the water
- electronics a small quantity of an element added to a pure semiconductor crystal to control its electrical conductivitySee also acceptor (def. 2), donor (def. 5)
mid-15c., “thing which makes or is impure;” c.1500, “fact or quality of being impure,” from Middle French impurité, from impur (see impure). Related: Impurities.