Pollute vs Tarnish - What's the difference?
pollute | tarnish | Related terms |
To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.
To make something or somewhere less suitable for some activity, especially by the introduction of some unnatural factor.
(dated) To corrupt or profane
* But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted , as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8 (RSV)
To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonour.
Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
To soil, sully, damage or compromise
(figurative) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
* Dryden
In transitive terms the difference between pollute and tarnish
is that pollute is to make something or somewhere less suitable for some activity, especially by the introduction of some unnatural factor while tarnish is to soil, sully, damage or compromise.As an adjective pollute
is polluted.As a noun tarnish is
oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.pollute
English
Verb
(pollut)- The factory pollute d the river when it cleaned its tanks.
- The lights from the stadium polluted the night sky, and we couldn't see the stars.
Derived terms
* self-polluteReferences
* ----tarnish
English
Noun
(-)Verb
(es)- Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing .
- He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.
- Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, / Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.