different between sterilization vs sterilize

English

Alternative forms

• sterilisation

Etymology

sterile +? -ization

Noun

sterilization (countable and uncountable, plural sterilizations)

1. (uncountable) The process of treating something to kill or inactivate microorganisms.

   Heat sterilization is used during canning so the food can be safely stored for long periods.

2. (uncountable) A procedure to permanently prevent an organism from reproducing.

   Spaying a cat is a form of sterilization to limit the population growth.

3. (countable) an instance of a sterilization procedure

   The vet performed several sterilizations this week.
4. (uncountable) A monetary policy operation used to offset a foreign exchange intervention.

   The Federal Reserve is responsible for foreign exchange sterilization.

Related terms

• sterilize

Translations

See also

• autoclave
• sanitization

English

Alternative forms

• sterilise (UK)

Etymology

sterile +? -ize

Verb

sterilize (third-person singular simple present sterilizes, present participle sterilizing, simple past and past participle sterilized)

1. (transitive) To deprive of the ability to procreate.
2. (transitive) To make unable to produce; to make unprofitable.
3. (transitive, biology) To kill, deactivate (denature), or destroy (break apart) all living, viable microorganisms and spores on a surface, in a fluid, or contained in a compound, such as culture media or a medical product.
4. (transitive) To redact (a document), removing classified or sensitive material.
   • 1974, Miles Copeland, Without cloak or dagger: the truth about the new espionage (page 141)

     […] (minus, of course, any information that might identify the agent and other operational personnel), or he might code it or "sterilize" it, and reward the foreign station chief in some other way.

   • 2014, Evanthis Hatzivassiliou, NATO and Western Perceptions of the Soviet Bloc (page 2)

     The same phenomenon is also detectable in the records of the meetings of NATO committees: the priority of avoiding any manifestation of internal disagreements led to the production of 'sterilized' records of discussions which evidently were significantly more lively than shown in the official papers.

Related terms

• sterile
• sterilization

Translations

See also

• birth control
• castrate
• castrato
• eunuch
• procreate
• procreation
• spay

References

• sterilize in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Further reading

• Wikipedia article on sterilization

Anagrams

• Listerize