Verb: denature dee'ney-chu(r)
- Modify (as a native protein) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so that all of the original properties are removed or diminished
"The scientist denatured the protein to study its structure"
- Make (alcohol) unfit for drinking without impairing usefulness for other purposes
"The government required companies to denature industrial alcohol"
- Add nonfissionable material to (fissionable material) so as to make unsuitable for use in an atomic bomb
"They denatured the uranium to prevent its use in weapons"
Derived forms: denaturing, denatured, denatures
Type of: alter, change, modify
Encyclopedia: Denature