impoverish /imˈpɔvəriʃ/ vt. 1.使贫困：They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment.他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。2.使枯竭，耗尽；使虚弱：impoverish natural resources耗尽自然资源Its use spreads disease and impoverishes the land.用了它之后, 病害蔓延, 土地贫瘠。