v.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' lüt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: pol · lut · ed ; pol · lut · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin pollutus, past participle of polluere, from por- (akin to Latin per through) + -luere (akin to Latin lutum mud, Greek lyma dirt, defilement) ― more at FOR
Date: 14th century
1 a : to make ceremonially or morally impure : DEFILE b : DEBASE 1 <using language to deceive or mislead pollute s language ― Linda C. Lederman>
2 a : to make physically impure or unclean : BEFOUL , DIRTY b : to contaminate (an environment) especially with man-made waste
synonyms see CONTAMINATE
– pol · lut · er noun
– pol · lut · ive \ - ' lü-tiv \ adjective