Main Entry: pol·lute

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈlüt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): 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 pollutes 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 \-ˈlü-tiv\ adjective