pollute

[pəˈluːt]
verb
poluir
1. to make something dirty or harmful by adding unwanted substances
Industrial factories pollute the air with toxic gases.
As fábricas industriais poluem o ar com gases tóxicos.
2. to contaminate water, soil, or atmosphere with harmful substances
Plastic waste pollutes our oceans.
O lixo plástico polui nossos oceanos.
3. to make something morally or spiritually impure
Negative thoughts can pollute your mind.
Pensamentos negativos podem poluir sua mente.
In Brazil, environmental awareness has grown significantly, and 'poluir' is frequently discussed in the context of Amazon deforestation, air quality in major cities like São Paulo, and ocean contamination. In the USA, the term is central to environmental policy discussions and is often used in legislative and scientific contexts.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
contaminatetaintdefilepoisoncorrupt
Antonyms / Antônimos
purifycleancleanse

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
poluir
Standard usage in formal and informal contexts
São Paulo
poluir
Common in environmental discussions and news media
Portugal
poluir
Identical usage as Brazilian Portuguese
USA
pollute
Widely used in environmental legislation and public discourse

Related Words

pollutionpollutantpolluterenvironmental

Related Idioms & Phrases

pollute one's mind
pollute the environment
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