pollute
pollute definition
pol·lute (pə lo̵̅o̅t′)
transitive verb polluted -·lut′ed, polluting -·lut′·ing
- to make unclean, impure, or corrupt; defile; dirty
- 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
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