/ English Dictionary |
DISINFECT
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
I. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they disinfect ... he / she / it disinfects
Past simple: disinfected
-ing form: disinfecting
Sense 1
Meaning:
Destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing
Example:
disinfect a wound
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "disinfect" is one way to...):
clean; make clean (make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disinfect"):
sterilise; sterilize (make free from bacteria)
antisepticize (disinfect with an antiseptic)
chlorinate (disinfect with chlorine)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Antonym:
infect (contaminate with a disease or microorganism)
Derivation:
disinfectant (an agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease)
disinfectant (preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms)
disinfection (treatment to destroy harmful microorganisms)