v.
Pronunciation: ' m ə r-s ə - ˌ r ī z
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -ized ; -iz · ing
Etymology: John Mercer † 1866 English calico printer
Date: 1852
: to give (as cotton yarn) luster, strength, and receptiveness to dyes by treatment under tension with caustic soda
– mer · cer · i · za · tion \ ˌ m ə rs-r ə - ' z ā -sh ə n, ˌ m ə r-s ə - \ noun