| pollucite | <chemical> A colourless transparent mineral, resembling quartz, occurring with castor or castorite on the island of Elba. It is a silicate of alumina and caesia. Synonym: pollux. See: Pollux, and 4th Castor. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| pollutant | An undesired contaminant that results in pollution. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pollute | 1. To make foul, impure, or unclean; to defile; to taint; to soil; to desecrate; used of physical or moral defilement. "The land was polluted with blood.", "Wickedness . . . Hath polluted the whole earth." 2. To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonor. 3. To render ceremonially unclean; to disqualify or unfit for sacred use or service, or for social intercourse. "Neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die." (Num. Xviii. 32) "They have polluted themselves with blood." (Lam. Iv. 14) Synonym: To defile, soil, contaminate, corrupt, taint, vitiate, debauch, dishonor, ravish. Origin: L. Pollutus, p. P. Of polluere to defile, to pollute, from a prep. Appearing only in comp. + luere to wash. See Position, Lave. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pollution | <ecology> The changing of a natural environment, either by natural or artificial means, so that the environment becomes harmful to the living things normally found in it. most often this refers to the input of toxic chemicals into the environment. (09 Oct 1997) |
| pollux | 1. <astronomy> A fixed star of the second magnitude, in the constellation Gemini. Cf. 3d Castor. 2. <chemical> Same as Pollucite. Origin: L, the twin brother of castor; also, the constellation. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |