sterilize

/ˌstɛrəˈlaɪz/

/ˈstɛrɪlaɪz/

Other forms: sterilized; sterilizing; sterilizes

When you sterilize something, you make it completely clean and free from any contaminant. It's important to sterilize tools, hands, and furniture in hospitals so germs don't get spread between patients.

People who make their own jam and pickles need to sterilize the jars first, and when you feed a tiny baby it's important to sterilize the bottles. Whenever you need to make sure something is as clean as possible, you should sterilize it. The earliest meaning of sterilize is still in use, too: to "make infertile," or to make it impossible for an organism to reproduce or have a baby.

Definitions of sterilize

1. verb

   make free from bacteria
   synonyms: sterilise

   types:

   autoclave

   subject to the action of an autoclave

   type of:

   disinfect

   destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing
2. verb

   make infertile
   synonyms: desex, desexualise, desexualize, fix, sterilise, unsex

   types:

   alter, castrate, neuter, spay

   remove the ovaries of

   castrate, demasculinise, demasculinize, emasculate

   remove the testicles of a male animal

   vasectomise, vasectomize

   remove the vas deferens

   defeminise, defeminize

   remove the ovaries of (female mammals such as cats)

   caponise, caponize

   convert a cock into a capon

   cut, geld

   cut off the testicles (of male animals such as horses)

   type of:

   operate, operate on

   perform surgery on