pollute
gb/pəlˈut/ us/pəlˈut/
B2
Kiingereza
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
B2
action
1
make the environment dirty or harmful
To make the environment dirty or dangerous.
Muundo wa matumizi:
pollute [air/water/land/place] (with [waste/chemicals/smoke])
Kosa la kawaida:
Use a direct object: say “pollute the river” (or “pollute the river with chemicals”), not “pollute to the river.”
Visawe
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.)
Vinyume
clean (Remove dirt or harmful substances.)
|
purify (Make something pure or free of contaminants.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Mada
environment
|climate
|public_health
|science
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Smoke can pollute the air.
- Factories can pollute rivers.
Kitenzi
B2
action
2
contaminate a substance or supply
To make something like water or food unsafe.
Muundo wa matumizi:
pollute [water supply/food/sample] (with [bacteria/chemicals])
Kosa la kawaida:
In everyday English, “contaminate” is often preferred for food, medical samples, and lab work, but “pollute” is also used, especially in news reporting.
Visawe
contaminate (Most common for substances, food, and lab contexts.)
|
taint (Often used for food/drink; suggests spoilage or bad quality.)
Vinyume
sterilize (Remove germs from something (especially equipment or surfaces).)
|
decontaminate (Remove contamination from a substance or area.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
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
Mada
health
|food
|science
|public_health
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Chemicals can pollute drinking water.
Kitenzi
formal
C1
action
3
spoil something morally or mentally
To make something less pure or good by adding bad influences.
Muundo wa matumizi:
pollute [mind/debate/discourse/culture] (with [hatred/misinformation])
Kosa la kawaida:
This figurative use is usually formal; in casual speech people often say “ruin,” “mess up,” or “poison.”
Visawe
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.)
Vinyume
cleanse (Remove bad influences or harmful material (often figurative).)
|
purify (Make something morally or mentally cleaner or more wholesome.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
pollute the mind
|pollute public discourse
|pollute the debate
|pollute the conversation
|pollute the culture
|pollute the internet with misinformation
|polluted thinking
Mada
society
|ethics
|communication
|media
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Lies can pollute the discussion.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
pollute
IPA
GB/pəlˈut/
US/pəlˈut/
Silabi na mkazo
pol - lute (silabi 2)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lute)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: pollute
- 3rd Person Singular: pollutes
- Present Participle: polluting
- Past: polluted
Familia ya neno
Semi
Bado hakuna semi zilizounganishwa na ingizo hili.