pollute Hear it!

pollute definition

pol·lute (pə lo̵̅o̅t′)

transitive verb polluted -·lut′ed, polluting -·lut′·ing

  1. to make unclean, impure, or corrupt; defile; dirty
  2. to contaminate (water, air, etc.) with harmful chemicals, waste material, etc.

Etymology: ME poluten < L pollutus, pp. of polluere, to pollute < *por-, for per-, intens. + -luere, to soil < IE base *leu-, dirt > Gr lyma, dirt

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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