sterilize

tr.v., -ized, -iz·ing, -iz·es.

1. To make free from live bacteria or other microorganisms.
2. To deprive (a person or an animal) of the ability to produce offspring, as by removing the reproductive organs.
3. 1. To make incapable of bearing fruit or germinating.
   2. To render (land) unfruitful.
4. Economics. To place (gold) in safekeeping so as not to affect the supply of money or credit.
5. To make inoffensive or innocuous: sterilized the terminology with euphemisms.

sterilizer ster'il·iz'er n.

verb

1. To render free of microorganisms: decontaminate, disinfect, sanitize. See clean/dirty.
2. To render incapable of reproducing sexually: alter, castrate, fix, geld, neuter, spay, unsex. See reproduction/barrenness, rich/poor.

v

Definition: make clean
Antonyms: contaminate, dirty

---

v. 1. in naval mine warfare, permanently render a mine incapable of firing by means of a device (e.g., sterilizer) within the mine.

2. remove, from material to be used in covert and clandestine operations, marks or devices that can identify it as emanating from the sponsoring nation or organization.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

An apparatus used in ridding instruments, dressings, etc., of all microorganisms and their pathogenic products. See also autoclave.

(DOD, NATO) 1. In naval mine warfare, to permanently render a mine incapable of firing by means of a device (e.g., sterilizer) within the mine. 2. (DOD only) To remove from material to be used in covert and clandestine operations, marks or devices which can identify it as emanating from the sponsoring nation or organization.

IN BRIEF: To make something free of living things, especially microbes.

You can sterilize the baby's bottles by boiling them.

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - sterilisere

Nederlands (Dutch)
steriliseren, onvruchtbaar maken

Français (French)
v. tr. - stériliser, aseptiser, castrer

Deutsch (German)
v. - sterilisieren, unfruchtbar machen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - αποστειρώνω, στειρώνω

Italiano (Italian)
sterilizzare, isterilire

Português (Portuguese)
v. - esterilizar

Русский (Russian)
стерилизовать, выхолащивать, делать бесцветным, серым, делать бесполезным, лишать смысла, создавать искусственное бесплодие (у человека), освобождать от микроорганизмов, исключить из документа все секретное

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - esterilizar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - sterilisera

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
杀菌, 使成不毛, 消毒

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 殺菌, 使成不毛, 消毒

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 불임케 하다, 불모로 하다, 살균하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 滅菌する, 不妊にする, 貧弱にする

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يعقم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮עיקר, חיטא‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.