Saturate \Sat"u*rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Saturated; p. pr. & vb. n. Saturating.]

[L. saturatus, p. p. of saturare to saturate, fr. satur full of food, sated. See Satire.]

1. To cause to become completely penetrated, impregnated, or soaked; to fill fully; to sate.

Innumerable flocks and herds covered that vast expanse of emerald meadow saturated with the moisture of the Atlantic. --Macaulay.

Fill and saturate each kind With good according to its mind. --Emerson.

2. (Chem.) To satisfy the affinity of; to cause to become inert by chemical combination with all that it can hold; as, to saturate phosphorus with chlorine.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Saturated \Sat"u*ra`ted\, a.

1. Filled to repletion; holding by absorption, or in solution, all that is possible; as, saturated garments; a saturated solution of salt.

2. (Chem.) Having its affinity satisfied; combined with all it can hold; -- said of certain atoms, radicals, or compounds; thus, methane is a saturated compound. Contrasted with unsaturated.

Note: A saturated compound may exchange certain ingredients for others, but can not take on more without such exchange.

Saturated color (Optics), a color not diluted with white; a pure unmixed color, like those of the spectrum.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)