sterilize

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To deprive of the ability to procreate.
  2. To make unable to produce; to make unprofitable.
  3. To kill, deactivate (denature), or destroy (break apart) all living, viable microorganisms and spores on a surface, in a fluid, or contained in a compound, such as culture media or a medical product.
  4. To render a planet like Earth permanently uninhabitable to all life, including even microbes, causing their complete extinction.
  5. To redact (a document), removing classified or sensitive material.

Pronunciation

/ˈstɛɹɪlaɪz/ /ˈstɛɹəlaɪz/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-sterilize.wav

Word forms

sterilize sterilizes sterilizing sterilized sterilise

Etymology

From sterile + -ize.

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.