tr.v., -tured, -tur·ing, -tures.
- To change the nature or natural qualities of.
- To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially to add methanol to (ethyl alcohol).
- Biochemistry.
- To cause the tertiary structure of (a protein) to unfold, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.
- To cause the paired strands of (double-stranded DNA) to separate into individual single strands.
- Physics. To add nonfissionable matter to (fissionable material) so as to prevent use in an atomic weapon.
denaturation de·na'tur·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
