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pollute
[ puh-loot ]
/ pÉËlut /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used with object), pol·lut·ed, pol·lut·ing.
to make foul or unclean, especially with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty: to pollute the air with smoke.
to make morally unclean; defile.
to render ceremonially impure; desecrate: to pollute a house of worship.
Informal. to render less effective or efficient: The use of inferior equipment has polluted the company's service.
OTHER WORDS FOR pollute
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Origin of pollute
First recorded in 1325â75; Middle English polute, from Latin pollĆ«tus, past participle of polluere âto soil, defile,â equivalent to pol-, assimilated variant of por- âforth, forwardâ (variant of prefix per- ), here marking completed action + -lĆ«- base of -luere (akin to lutum âmud, dirt,â lustrum âmuddy placeâ) + -tus past participle suffix; see per-
OTHER WORDS FROM pollute
pol·lut·er, nounpol·lu·tive, adjectivenon·pol·lut·ing, adjectiveun·pol·lut·ing, adjectiveWords nearby pollute
pollster, polltaker, poll tax, pollucite, pollutant, pollute, polluted, pollution, Pollux, poll watcher, poll worker
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pollute in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for pollute
pollute
/ (pÉËluËt) /
verb (tr)
to contaminate, as with poisonous or harmful substances
to make morally corrupt or impure; sully
to desecrate or defile
Derived forms of pollute
polluter, nounWord Origin for pollute
C14 polute, from Latin polluere to defile
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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