GERMICIDE

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

Meaning:

An agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease

Synonyms:

antimicrobial; antimicrobic; disinfectant; germicide

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("germicide" is a kind of...):

agent (a substance that exerts some force or effect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "germicide"):

cetrimide (a cationic detergent that is a powerful disinfectant)

sodium hypochlorite (an unstable salt (NaOCl) used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant)

Derivation:

germicidal (preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms)