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"Pollute" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "contaminar", and "contaminate" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "contaminar". Learn more about the difference between "pollute" and "contaminate" below.
pollute(
puh
-
lut
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. contaminar
The factory owner was fined for polluting the river with toxic waste.El dueño de la fábrica fue multado por contaminar el río de residuos tóxicos.
2. (to corrupt)
a. corromper
These violent images are polluting the minds of our youth.Estas imágenes violentas están corrompiendo la mente de nuestros jóvenes.
contaminate(
kuhn
-
tah
-
mih
-
neyt
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. contaminar
"If you don't wash that thermometer, you're going to contaminate the sample," said the chemist."Si no lavas ese termómetro, vas a contaminar la muestra", dijo el químico.
2. (figurative) (to ruin)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. contaminar
A lot of advertising billboards are contaminating our landscape.Una gran cantidad de vallas publicitarias están contaminando el paisaje.
