different between pollute vs tarnish

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

Etymology

From Middle English ternysshen, a borrowing from Old French terniss-, stem of ternir (“to make dim, make wan”), borrowed from Frankish *darnijan (“to conceal”). Doublet of dern and darn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t??n??/

Noun

tarnish (usually uncountable, plural tarnishes)

1. Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
   • 1918, Hannah Teresa Rowley, Mrs. Helen Louise (Wales) Farrell, Principles of Chemistry Applied to the Household

     Precipitated calcium carbonate, a very fine powdery form, is used as a basis for many tooth powders and pastes. As whiting it finds a wide use in cleaning metals of their tarnishes.

Translations

Verb

tarnish (third-person singular simple present tarnishes, present participle tarnishing, simple past and past participle tarnished)

1. (intransitive) To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

2. (transitive) To compromise, damage, soil, or sully.

3. (intransitive, figuratively) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.

Translations

Anagrams

• Hartins, rantish