STERILISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sterilise mean? 

• STERILISE (verb)
  The verb STERILISE has 2 senses:

1. make free from bacteria

2. make infertile

  Familiarity information: STERILISE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STERILISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sterilise    ... he / she / it sterilises   
Past simple: sterilised   
Past participle: sterilised   
-ing form: sterilising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make free from bacteria

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

sterilise; sterilize

Hypernyms (to "sterilise" is one way to...):

disinfect (destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sterilise"):

autoclave (subject to the action of an autoclave)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sterilisation (the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means))

steriliser (a device for heating substances above their boiling point; used to manufacture chemicals or to sterilize surgical instruments)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make infertile

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

desex; desexualise; desexualize; fix; sterilise; sterilize; unsex

Context example:

in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilites are sterilized

Hypernyms (to "sterilise" is one way to...):

operate; operate on (perform surgery on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sterilise"):

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)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

sterilisation (the act of making an organism barren or infertile (unable to reproduce))

 Context examples 

Already all of his lairs but one be sterilise as for him; and before the sunset this shall be so.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Researchers also irradiated each batch of mosquitoes to sterilise any females left in the mix, because releasing Wolbachia-infected females has been shown to undermine the technique.

(Mosquitos rendered infertile by biological engineering, SciDev.Net)

In addition, it reduces by up to two months the time needed to stabilize and sterilise the organic matter from the sludge and convert it into fertilizer.

(Scientists validate a new technology that transforms sewage sludge into fertilizer more efficiently, University of Granada)

And so we have this day to hunt out all his lairs and sterilise them.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The moveable covers enable temperatures to be monitored throughout the process, which, during the first stage, rise above the critical point of 55 degrees—the temperature necessary for the organic matter present in the sludge to be sterilised.

(Scientists validate a new technology that transforms sewage sludge into fertilizer more efficiently, University of Granada)

We must sterilise this earth, so sacred of holy memories, that he has brought from a far distant land for such fell use.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

While, previously, practically all the sludge was dumped, the new regulations are stricter, requiring the waste to be sterilised and stabilised, since its incorrect handling can lead to public health problems due to microbial contamination and heavy metals.

(Scientists validate a new technology that transforms sewage sludge into fertilizer more efficiently, University of Granada)

Nay, more, in all probability, he does not know that such a power exists to us as can sterilise his lairs, so that he cannot use them as of old.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

We must sterilise all the imported earth between sunrise and sunset; we shall thus catch the Count at his weakest, and without a refuge to fly to.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Without saying any more he took his seat, and the Professor began to resume his statement:—We must trace each of these boxes; and when we are ready, we must either capture or kill this monster in his lair; or we must, so to speak, sterilise the earth, so that no more he can seek safety in it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)