Environment / B2

i-MISHUN/ɪˈmɪʃn/

An emission is gas, heat, or radiation sent out: carbon emissions, vehicle emissions, a radio emission. The plural is common in news and exams. Pollution is the harm; emissions are what comes out of the pipe or chimney. Emit is the verb. In speech, what is sent out / pollution from cars is enough. Do not use emission for a TV programme (that is an episode / a broadcast), and do not mix it with omission (something left out).

Meaning

Gas, heat, or radiation sent out, especially from industry or vehicles (often plural: emissions).

Examples

• “New rules aim to cut carbon emissions from cars.”
• “The city aims to cut emissions from buses by half.”
• “The report measured emissions at the factory gate, not air quality in the park.”

Good to know

What is sent out, often pollution. Often plural: emissions. Verb: emit. Contrast: pollution (the harm); omission (left out). Not a TV episode.

Topics

New