mid-14c., "discharge of semen other than during sex," later, "desecration, defilement" (late 14c.), from Late Latin pollutionem (nominative pollutio) "defilement," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin polluere "to soil, defile, contaminate," from por- "before" + -luere "smear," from PIE root *leu- "dirt; make dirty" (cognates: Latin lutum "mud, mire, clay," lues "filth;" Greek lyma "filth, dirt, disgrace," lymax "rubbish, refuse;" Old Irish loth "mud, dirt;" Lithuanian lutynas "pool, puddle"). Sense of "contamination of the environment" first recorded c. 1860, but not common until c. 1955.
权威例句
1. Randolph's work was exclusively concerned with the effects of pollution on health.
伦道夫的著作专门论述污染对健康的影响。
2. Environmentalists say a critical factor in the city's pollution is its population.
环境保护主义者说造成该城市污染问题的一个关键因素是其人口数量。
3. The snowcoach concept in Yellowstone provides low-impact, low-pollution access.
在黄石公园里使用雪车这一想法,为人们提供了一种对环境低影响、低污染的游览方式。
4. The pollution could decimate the river's thriving population of kingfishers.
污染可能会造成河边大量繁殖的翠鸟大批死亡。
5. The pollution has already turned vast areas into a wasteland.