disinfectant

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(dĭs'ĭn-fĕk'tənt) pronunciation
n.
An agent, such as heat, radiation, or a chemical, that destroys, neutralizes, or inhibits the growth of disease-carrying microorganisms.

adj.
Serving to disinfect.


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Agents that destroy or remove bacteria and other microorganisms and are used to cleanse surgical instruments and other objects. Examples are cresol, hexachlorophene, and phenol. Dilute solutions of some disinfectants may be used as antiseptics or as preservatives in solutions of eye drops or injections.

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disinfectant, agent that destroys disease-causing microorganisms and their spores. Disinfectants, or germicides, are sometimes considered to be substances applied to inanimate bodies, whereas antiseptics, not so potent, are agents that kill microbes on living things. Mercuric chloride, carbolic acid (phenol), and chlorinated lime and other chlorine releasing compounds are disinfectants used on contaminated objects. Formaldehyde and some other disinfectants suitable for use in sprays are also used as deodorants and as airborne disinfectants, or fumigants, in large enclosed spaces. Certain substances such as mercury toluene sulfonanilide are used for disinfecting seeds to protect against soilborne plant diseases. Some disinfectants, especially chlorine and chlorine compounds, are also used as preservatives for leather and other materials. In weaker solutions some disinfecting chemicals may be used on the skin. Disinfection of contaminated objects can also be accomplished by boiling, where appropriate.



a substance that destroys or inhibits pathogenic microorganisms, but not necessarily bacterial spores, in the inanimate environment. Compare sanitizer, sterilant.

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1. freeing from infection.
2. an agent that destroys infection-producing organisms. Heat and certain other physical agents such as live steam can be disinfectants, but in common usage the term is reserved for chemical substances such as mercury bichloride or phenol. Disinfectants are usually applied to inanimate objects since they are too strong to be used on living tissues. Chemical disinfectants are not always effective against spore-forming bacteria.

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(dis′infek′tənt)
n

A chemical intended especially for use on instruments to destroy most pathogenic microorganisms.

Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'disinfectant'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to disinfectant, see:
  • PHARMACOLOGY - disinfectant: cleansing agent that destroys bacteria and other microorganisms, used on surfaces and surgical tools
  • Dressings and Supports - disinfectant: cleaning agent that destroys bacteria and other microorganisms, esp. for use on tools and surfaces


Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Disinfectant (software)

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Disinfectant was a popular anti-virus software program for the classic Macintosh operating system. It was originally released as freeware by John Norstad in 1988. New releases continued until the author retired the program in 1998, citing the new danger posed by macro viruses, which Disinfectant did not detect, and the inability of a single individual to possibly maintain a program that caught all of them.

References


Translations:

Disinfectant

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - desinfektionsmiddel
adj. - bakteriedræbende

Nederlands (Dutch)
ontsmettingsmiddel

Français (French)
n. - désinfectant
adj. - désinfectant

Deutsch (German)
n. - Desinfektionsmittel, keimtötendes Mittel
adj. - desinfizierend, Desinfektion...

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - απολυμαντικό, απολυμαντική ουσία

Italiano (Italian)
disinfettante

Português (Portuguese)
n. - desinfetante (m)

Русский (Russian)
дезинфицирующее средство

Español (Spanish)
n. - desinfectante
adj. - desinfectante

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - desinfektionsmedel

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
消毒剂, 杀菌剂, 消毒的, 杀菌的

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 消毒劑, 殺菌劑
adj. - 消毒的, 殺菌的

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 살균제
adj. - 살균의

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 消毒の効力のある
n. - 防疫用殺菌消毒薬, 消毒剤

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مطهر, مبيد للجراثيم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חומר (בד"כ נוזל) מחטא‬
adj. - ‮מחטא‬


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