pollute
verb /pəˈluːt/
/pəˈluːt/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they pollute | /pəˈluːt/ /pəˈluːt/ |
| he / she / it pollutes | /pəˈluːts/ /pəˈluːts/ |
| past simple polluted | /pəˈluːtɪd/ /pəˈluːtɪd/ |
| past participle polluted | /pəˈluːtɪd/ /pəˈluːtɪd/ |
| -ing form polluting | /pəˈluːtɪŋ/ /pəˈluːtɪŋ/ |
- to add dirty or harmful substances to land, air, water, etc. so that it is no longer pleasant or safe to use
- pollute something the exhaust fumes that are polluting our cities
- pollute something by/with something The river has been polluted with toxic waste from local factories.
- (figurative) a society polluted by racism
Collocations The environmentThe environmentEnvironmental damageTopics The environmentb1- cause/contribute to climate change/global warming
- produce pollution/CO2/greenhouse (gas) emissions
- damage/destroy the environment/a marine ecosystem/the ozone layer/coral reefs
- degrade ecosystems/habitats/the environment
- harm the environment/wildlife/marine life
- threaten natural habitats/coastal ecosystems/a species with extinction
- deplete natural resources/the ozone layer
- pollute rivers and lakes/waterways/the air/the atmosphere/the environment/oceans
- contaminate groundwater/the soil/food/crops
- log forests/rainforests/trees
- address/combat/tackle the threat/effects/impact of climate change
- fight/take action on/reduce/stop global warming
- limit/curb/control air/water/atmospheric/environmental pollution
- cut/reduce pollution/greenhouse gas emissions
- offset carbon/CO2 emissions
- reduce (the size of) your carbon footprint
- achieve/promote sustainable development
- preserve/conserve biodiversity/natural resources
- protect endangered species/a coastal ecosystem
- prevent/stop soil erosion/overfishing/massive deforestation/damage to ecosystems
- raise awareness of environmental issues
- save the planet/the rainforests/an endangered species
- conserve/save/consume/waste energy
- manage/exploit/be rich in natural resources
- dump/dispose of hazardous/toxic/nuclear waste
- dispose of/throw away litter/(especially British English) rubbish/(especially North American English) garbage/(North American English) trash/sewage
- use/be made from recycled/recyclable/biodegradable material
- recycle bottles/packaging/paper/plastic/waste
- promote/encourage recycling/sustainable development/the use of renewable energy
- develop/invest in/promote renewable energy
- reduce your dependence/reliance on fossil fuels
- get/obtain/generate/produce electricity from wind, solar and wave power/renewable sources
- build/develop a (50-megawatt/offshore) wind farm
- install/be fitted with/be powered by solar panels
Oxford Collocations DictionaryPollute is used with these nouns as the subject:- waste
- air
- atmosphere
- environment
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin pollut- ‘soiled, defiled’, from the verb polluere, based on the root of lutum ‘mud’.