Verb: sterilize 'ste-ru,lIz
- Make free from bacteria
"The nurse sterilized the surgical instruments";
- sterilise [Brit]
- Make infertile
"in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilities are sterilized";
- sterilise [Brit], desex, unsex, desexualize, desexualise [Brit], fix
Derived forms: sterilized, sterilizing, sterilizes
Type of: disinfect, operate, operate on
Encyclopedia: Sterilize