sterilize

Other spellings

• (UK) sterilise

Word parts

sterile + -ize

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈstɛrɪlʌɪz/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form sterilize

Third-person singular sterilizes

Past tense sterilized

Past participle sterilized

Present participle sterilizing

1. (biology) If a living thing is sterilized, it is killed, deactivated or destroyed.

Related words

• sterilization/sterilisation
• sanitize/sanitise