enrarecer

to rarefy

to pollute

enrarecer

transitive verb

1. (to make less dense)

a. to rarefy

Al enrarecer el gas, este se vuelve menos pesado que el aire y se eleva.

When rarefying the gas, it becomes lighter than air and rises.

2. (to contaminate)

a. to pollute

Era un espacio muy cerrado, y el humo de los cigarrillos enrarecía el aire.

It was a very enclosed space, and the cigarette smoke was polluting the air.

3. (to make strained)

a. to strain

El enfrentamiento entre los dos directores enrareció el ambiente en la oficina.

The confrontation between the two directors strained the atmosphere in the office.

4. (to make scanty)

a. to make scarce

El embargo había enrarecido medicamentos básicos y muchos de los pacientes hospitalizados no podían ser tratados.

The embargo had made basic medicines scarce and many of the hospitalized patients could not be treated.

enrarecerse

pronominal verb

5. (to become thin)

a. to become rarefied

A medida que la temperatura asciende, el aire se enrarece.

As temperature rises, air becomes rarefied.

6.

(figurative)

(to get tense)

a. to become strained

Después de esa discusión violenta, nuestra relación se enrareció, y jamás volvió a ser como antes.

After that violent argument, our relationship became strained, and it was never again what it had been.