I. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|septik, -ēk adjective
Etymology: anti- (I) + Greek sēptikos putrefying — more at septic
1.
a. : opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay : having the properties of an antiseptic : preventing or arresting the growth or action of microorganisms especially on or in living tissue — compare disinfectant
b. : acting like an antiseptic : cleansing , purifying
the antiseptic effect of sturdy criticism — New Republic
also : bracing
smelling the crisp antiseptic air — Berton Roueché
c. : giving protection from what is contaminating
new settlements a safe number of antiseptic miles from Johannesburg's whites — Time
2. : relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptics
antiseptic treatment
— compare aseptic
3.
a. : free from living microorganisms : characterized by scrupulous cleanliness, sterilization, exclusion of bacteria : aseptic
a technician in an antiseptic white jacket — Monsanto Magazine
b.
(1) : suggestive of a hospital or operating room (as in cleanliness or orderliness)
abstract art's antiseptic charm — Lewis Mumford
the antiseptic world of interstellar mathematics — Time
(2) : excessively neat, well-ordered, or severe
the room itself was bare, almost antiseptic — Nicholas Blake
(3) : lacking warmth or vitality
a conception that was much too meek and antiseptic — Joseph Katz
(4) : dull , vapid , unimaginative
main building of antiseptic institutional Georgian — Nathaniel Burt
c. : free or protected from what is contaminating
lyrics that were antiseptic as Sunday school — Saturday Review
two romances of a lively but antiseptic nature — Wolcott Gibbs
d. : marked by objectivity or detachment ; especially : coldly impersonal
gave the score an antiseptic reading — Horst Koegler
• an·ti·sep·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē, -ēk-, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: a substance that opposes sepsis, putrefaction, or decay : one that prevents or arrests the growth or action of microorganisms either by inhibiting their activity or by destroying them — used especially of agents applied to living tissue; compare disinfectant , germicide