sterilize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

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

   Boil the jars to sterilize them before adding the preserves.

2. 2
   verb

   to make a person or animal unable to reproduce

   The veterinarian advised the shelter to sterilize every adult cat.

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