pollute
gb/pəlˈut/ us/pəlˈut/
B2
Inglese
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Verbo
B2
action
1
make the environment dirty or harmful
To make the environment dirty or dangerous.
Schema d'uso:
pollute [air/water/land/place] (with [waste/chemicals/smoke])
Errore comune:
Use a direct object: say “pollute the river” (or “pollute the river with chemicals”), not “pollute to the river.”
Sinonimi
contaminate (More neutral/technical; focuses on making something impure or unsafe.)
|
foul (Often suggests making something dirty in an unpleasant way.)
|
poison (Stronger; emphasizes causing harm or toxicity.)
Contrari
clean (Remove dirt or harmful substances.)
|
purify (Make something pure or free of contaminants.)
Collocazioni
pollute the air
|pollute rivers
|pollute waterways
|pollute the ocean
|pollute the atmosphere
|pollute the environment
|industrial pollution pollutes
|heavily polluted areas
|polluted water
|polluted air
Temi
environment
|climate
|public_health
|science
Esempi
- Car exhaust continues to pollute the air in many large cities.
- The factory was fined for polluting the river with untreated waste.
- Plastic trash can pollute the ocean for decades.
Esempi per chi studia
- Smoke can pollute the air.
- Factories can pollute rivers.
Verbo
B2
action
2
contaminate a substance or supply
To make something like water or food unsafe.
Schema d'uso:
pollute [water supply/food/sample] (with [bacteria/chemicals])
Errore comune:
In everyday English, “contaminate” is often preferred for food, medical samples, and lab work, but “pollute” is also used, especially in news reporting.
Sinonimi
contaminate (Most common for substances, food, and lab contexts.)
|
taint (Often used for food/drink; suggests spoilage or bad quality.)
Contrari
sterilize (Remove germs from something (especially equipment or surfaces).)
|
decontaminate (Remove contamination from a substance or area.)
Collocazioni
pollute the water supply
|pollute drinking water
|pollute a reservoir
|pollute a well
|pollute a food source
|pollute a sample
|polluted drinking water
|polluted groundwater
Temi
health
|food
|science
|public_health
Esempi
- Runoff from the mine polluted nearby drinking water.
- A leak could pollute the reservoir and affect thousands of homes.
- If the container isn’t sealed properly, it can pollute the sample.
Esempi per chi studia
- Chemicals can pollute drinking water.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
3
spoil something morally or mentally
To make something less pure or good by adding bad influences.
Schema d'uso:
pollute [mind/debate/discourse/culture] (with [hatred/misinformation])
Errore comune:
This figurative use is usually formal; in casual speech people often say “ruin,” “mess up,” or “poison.”
Sinonimi
corrupt (Often suggests moral damage or dishonest influence.)
|
taint (Suggests damaging something’s reputation or purity.)
|
poison (Strong; emphasizes harmful influence on attitudes or relationships.)
Contrari
cleanse (Remove bad influences or harmful material (often figurative).)
|
purify (Make something morally or mentally cleaner or more wholesome.)
Collocazioni
pollute the mind
|pollute public discourse
|pollute the debate
|pollute the conversation
|pollute the culture
|pollute the internet with misinformation
|polluted thinking
Temi
society
|ethics
|communication
|media
Esempi
- They argued that hate speech pollutes public discourse.
- She tried not to let bitterness pollute her memories of the trip.
- Misinformation can pollute the debate and distract from the facts.
Esempi per chi studia
- Lies can pollute the discussion.
Grammatica
Forma base
pollute
IPA
GB/pəlˈut/
US/pəlˈut/
Sillabe e accento
pol - lute (2 sillabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lute)
Forme flesse
Verb
- Base: pollute
- 3rd Person Singular: pollutes
- Present Participle: polluting
- Past: polluted
Famiglia di parole
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