Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pollute
Pol-lute′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Polluted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Polluting
.] 1.
To make foul, impure, or unclean; to defile; to taint; to soil; to desecrate; – used of physical or moral defilement.
The land was
polluted
with blood. Ps. cvi. 38
Wickedness . . . hath
polluted
the whole earth. 2 Esd. xv. 6.
2.
To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonor.
3.
(Jewish Law)
To render ceremonially unclean; to disqualify or unfit for sacred use or service, or for social intercourse.
Neither shall ye
pollute
the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die. Num. xviii. 32.
They have
polluted
themselves with blood. Lam. iv. 14.
Syn. – To defile; soil; contaminate; corrupt; taint; vitiate; debauch; dishonor; ravish.
Pol-lute′
,Adj.
[L.
pollutus
.] Polluted.
[R.]
Milton.
Definition 2024
pollute
pollute
English
Verb
pollute (third-person singular simple present pollutes, present participle polluting, simple past and past participle polluted)
- (transitive) To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.
- The factory polluted the river when it cleaned its tanks.
- (transitive) To make something or somewhere less suitable for some activity, especially by the introduction of some unnatural factor.
- The lights from the stadium polluted the night sky, and we couldn't see the stars.
- (dated) To corrupt or profane
- But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8 (RSV)
- To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonour.
Derived terms
Translations
to make something harmful
to make something or somewhere less suitable
Adjective
pollute (comparative more pollute, superlative most pollute)
- (rare) Polluted.
Translations
References
- pollute in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913