irrigate

/ˈɪrɪɡeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪrɪɡeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈir-ə-ˌgāt/ (ame, mw)

irrigate — verb

  • irrigatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • irrigateshe / she / it
  • irrigatedpast simple
  • irrigating-ing form

1. to bring water to farmland or gardens through pipes, channels, or sprinklers, so

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to bring water to farmland or gardens through pipes, channels, or sprinklers, so that crops and plants can grow

例句

The Watanabe family irrigates their rice fields every morning during the dry season.

irrigate [land/fields/crops] + time reference

Farmers in this valley use water from the nearby river to irrigate their vegetable plots.

同義詞
  • water

    general term for giving plants water; can be natural or artificial

  • flood

    covers land with too much water, often unintentionally

反義詞
  • drain

    removes water from land instead of adding it

文法句型

irrigate + noun phrase (land / fields / crops)

用法筆記

Object is typically land, fields, or crops. Unlike 'water', irrigate always refers to human-made systems — never to natural rainfall.

常見錯誤

❌The rain irrigated the garden.
✅The rain watered the garden.
💡'irrigate' is only used for human-built water systems, not for natural rain.
❌She irrigated the houseplants every week.
✅She watered the houseplants every week.
💡small potted plants are watered, not irrigated.

2. to clean a wound, a body cavity, or an eye by passing a steady stream of liquid

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to clean a wound, a body cavity, or an eye by passing a steady stream of liquid through it, usually for medical treatment

例句

The nurse irrigated Keiko's wound with a saline solution before covering it with a bandage.

irrigate [body part] with [liquid]

After the surgery, the doctor irrigated Xin's knee joint to remove tiny fragments of bone.

同義詞
  • flush

    similar meaning, more common for body cavities like sinuses

  • rinse

    gentler action, often for removing soap or dirt from a surface

反義詞
  • dry

    removes moisture instead of adding it

文法句型

irrigate + noun phrase (wound / eye / body part)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a doctor, nurse, or paramedic. This sense is almost never used in everyday conversation — 'rinse' or 'wash' are preferred for minor cuts.

常見錯誤

❌The mother irrigated her baby's tiny scratch with a cotton ball.
✅The mother cleaned her baby's tiny scratch with a cotton ball.
💡'irrigate' implies a steady stream of liquid, not gentle wiping.