pollute

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.
2. (transitive) 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

Polluted; defiled.

Synonyms

contaminate

defile

soil

taint

foul

corrupt

spoil

dirty

adulterate

stain

infect

vitiate

profane

befoul

ruin

dilute

desecrate

make dirty

pollution

deprave

thin

pervert

seduce

smirch

sully

violate

louse up

waste

add-in

amear

affect

bedaub

besmirch

blast

blemish

blight

contamination

debase

debauch

dish

get into trouble

incriminate

inculpate

lower

maculate

mangle

mar

muddy

poison

put in

Translations

inquinare

polluer

contaminare

contaminar

poluir

contaminar

verschmutzen

μολύνω

verontreinigen

verunreinigen

beschmutzen

contaminer

insudiciare

βεβηλώνω

contaminar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pəˈluːt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: polluten

In summary

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