Air Pollution - 英语词汇详解

Meaning 1：air pollution (Air Pollution)

Air Pollution 🔊

/ɛr pəˈluːʃən/

Dirty or harmful things in the air we breathe, often from cars, factories, or fires.

air pollution 🔊

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/ɛr pəˈluːʃən/

Air pollution refers to the contamination of the atmosphere by harmful substances such as gases, particulates, and biological molecules, often resulting from human activities like burning fossil fuels.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Air (from Latin aer) + pollution (from Latin polluere, 'to defile').

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a pool of clean water turning black as pollution drips in—air pollution does the same to our atmosphere.

📖 Example

Air pollution in the city was so bad today that we decided to cancel our picnic in the park. 🔊 Air pollution in the city was so bad today that we decided to cancel our picnic in the park.

🔗 Collocations

air pollution control – measures to reduce or prevent the release of pollutants into the air

air pollution monitoring – the systematic measurement of pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere

reduce air pollution – to decrease the amount of harmful substances emitted into the air

🔄 Synonyms

smog (n.) – a mixture of smoke and fog, often used to describe severe air pollution in cities

haze (n.) – a slight obscuration of the air caused by fine particles, often due to pollution

contamination (n.) – the presence of unwanted or harmful substances in the air

🚫 Antonyms

clean air (n.) – air that is free from pollutants and safe to breathe

fresh air (n.) – air that is clean, cool, and invigorating, typically found in natural environments

🌱 Derivatives

pollute (v.) – to make the air, water, or land dirty and unsafe to use

pollutant (n.) – a substance that pollutes the air, water, or land

pollution (n.) – the act or process of polluting or the state of being polluted

📖 Cultural Story

The phrase 'air pollution' gained prominence during the Industrial Revolution when coal burning created smog. The 1952 London Great Smog killed thousands, leading to the UK's Clean Air Act.