Verb: debase di'beys
- Corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones
"The dealer debased the cocaine with cheaper substances";
- load, adulterate, stretch, dilute
- Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
"Socrates was accused of debasing young men";
- corrupt, pervert, subvert, demoralize, demoralise [Brit], debauch, profane, vitiate, deprave, misdirect
- (metallurgy) lower in value by increasing the base-metal content
"They debased the gold coins by alloying them with copper";
- alloy
Derived forms: debased, debasing, debases
Type of: alter, change, corrupt, devalue, modify, spoil
Encyclopedia: Debase