English Explanatory Dictionary

pollute

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.
  2. To make something or somewhere less suitable for some activity, especially by the introduction of some unnatural factor.
  3. To corrupt or profane
  4. To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonour.
adj
  1. Polluted; defiled.

Pronunciation

/pəˈluːt/ /pəˈljuːt/ en-us-pollute.ogg

Word forms

pollute pollutes polluting polluted more pollute most pollute

Etymology

From Middle English polluten, borrowed from Latin pollūtum, from pollūtus (“no longer virgin", "unchaste”), perfect passive participle of polluō (“soil", "defile", "dishonor”).

Synonyms

contaminate poison taint blight mar ruin ball up bumble botch bugger up bungle corrupt crab deprave disrupt disturb foil fuck up jack up mess up mishandle mommick pollute put a crimp in queer screw up soil sour spoil stain undo upset turn upside down upset the applecart vitiate debauch lead astray defile sully adulterate demoralize detort file immoralize pervert preposterate seduce sophisticate suborn subvert tamper unmoralize warp desecrate profanate profane profanize tarnish violate abuse

Related words

pollutant pollution

Derived words

depollute pollutable polluter pollutive repollute self-pollute unpollute
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