[ox.i.dize] vb -dized ; -diz.ing vt (1806) 1: to combine with oxygen
2: to dehydrogenate esp. by the action of oxygen
3: to change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence: remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule) ~ vi: to become oxidized -- ox.i.diz.able adj