v.
Pronunciation: ' ster- ə - ˌ l ī z
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -ized ; -iz · ing
Date: 1695
: to make sterile: as a : to cause (land) to become unfruitful b (1) : to deprive of the power of reproducing <surgically sterilize cats and dogs> (2) : to make incapable of germination c : to make powerless or useless usually by restraining from a normal function, relation, or participation d : to free from living microorganisms
– ster · il · i · za · tion \ ˌ ster- ə -l ə - ' z ā -sh ə n \ noun
– ster · il · iz · er \ ' ster- ə - ˌ l ī -z ə r \ noun