Medical Dictionary
sterilize
vt ster·il·ize
ster·il·ized also British ster·il·isedster·il·iz·ing also British ster·il·is·ing
Medical Definition of STERILIZE
: to make sterile: a : to deprive of the power of reproducing b : to free from living microorganisms (as by the use of physical or chemical agents) <sterilize a surgical instrument>
—ster·il·iza·tion \ˌster-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən\ also British ster·il·isa·tion \-ˌlī-ˈ\ noun
Variants of STERILIZE
ster·il·ize also British ster·il·ise \ˈster-ə-ˌlīz\
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up sterilize? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).