sterilize

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled sterilise and sterilised

US /ˈstɛɹ.ɪ.laɪz/ UK /ˈster.ɪ.laɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #29115

Meanings

1

verb
to destroy or remove microorganisms from an object, substance, or place

Boil the jars to sterilize them before adding the preserves.
2

verb
to make a person or animal unable to reproduce

The veterinarian advised the shelter to sterilize every adult cat.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to destroy or remove... disinfectsanitize

2 verb · to make a person or animal... neuter spay

Opposites

contaminate infect

Word family

Derived forms chemosterilizedesterilizenonsterilizingpresterilizeradiosterilizeresterilizesterilizablesterilizeesterilizerthermosterilize

Related forms sterilesterilizationcastrate

Etymology

Formed from sterile + -ize. Sterile comes through French from Latin sterilis ("barren or unproductive"). The medical cleaning sense extends the idea of preventing biological reproduction to microorganisms.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# sterilize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈstɛɹ.ɪ.laɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈster.ɪ.laɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 29115

## Meanings
1. to destroy or remove microorganisms from an object, substance, or place
2. to make a person or animal unable to reproduce

## Examples
- Boil the jars to sterilize them before adding the preserves.
- The veterinarian advised the shelter to sterilize every adult cat.

## Synonyms
- disinfect
- sanitize
- neuter
- spay

## Antonyms
- contaminate
- infect

## Derived Forms
- chemosterilize
- desterilize
- nonsterilizing
- presterilize
- radiosterilize
- resterilize
- sterilizable
- sterilizee
- sterilizer
- thermosterilize

## Related Forms
- sterile
- sterilization
- castrate

## Etymology
Formed from sterile + -ize. Sterile comes through French from Latin sterilis ("barren or unproductive"). The medical cleaning sense extends the idea of preventing biological reproduction to microorganisms.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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