fumigate

/ˌfjuməˈgeɪt/

/ˈfjumɪgeɪt/

Other forms: fumigated; fumigating; fumigates

To fumigate is to spray something with fumes, usually to eliminate pests of some kind.

A fume is a type of smoke or other gaseous substance, and fumigation is when fumes are used to treat something. Most of the time, a house is fumigated because it has pests in it. If you have cockroaches or bedbugs, you might need to fumigate. Fumigating is a gaseous chemical attack that kills pests and is also dangerous to people and pets, so people clear out before fumigating takes places. The person who fumigates is usually an exterminator.

Definitions of fumigate

1. verb

   treat with fumes, expose to fumes, especially with the aim of disinfecting or eradicating pests
   synonyms: fume

   type of:

   process, treat

   subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition