different between pollute vs contaminated

English

Etymology

From Middle English polluten, from Latin poll?tum, from poll?tus (“no longer virgin", "unchaste”), perfect passive participle of pollu? (“soil", "defile", "dishonor”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??lu?t/, /p??lju?t/
• Rhymes: -u?t

Verb

pollute (third-person singular simple present pollutes, present participle polluting, simple past and past participle polluted)

1. (transitive) To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.

2. (transitive) To make something or somewhere less suitable for some activity, especially by the introduction of some unnatural factor.

3. (dated) To corrupt or profane
   • 1952, Bible (Revised Standard Version, Revelation 21:8

     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.

4. To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonour.

Derived terms

• polluter
• self-pollute

Related terms

• pollutant
• pollution

Translations

Adjective

pollute (comparative more pollute, superlative most pollute)

1. (rare) Polluted; defiled.

Translations

References

• pollute in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Latin

Participle

poll?te

1. vocative masculine singular of poll?tus

Middle English

Verb

pollute

1. Alternative form of polluten

English

Verb

contaminated

1. simple past tense and past participle of contaminate

Adjective

contaminated (comparative more contaminated, superlative most contaminated)

1. adulterated; impure
2. made unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements.
   • 2004, Phil Croucher, JAR Professional Pilot Studies (page 12-6)

     A "contaminated" runway has over 25% of its surface area covered with standing water or slush (or loose snow) more than 3mm thick, or compressed snow and ice anywhere along the takeoff run or accelerate-stop surface.

Translations

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "contaminated" is often applied: food, meat, fish, milk, water, groundwater, land, soil, sediment, site, property, air, product, material.