verb
1. make free from bacteria
• Syn: ↑sterilize
• Derivationally related forms: ↑sterilisation, ↑steriliser, ↑sterilization (for: ↑sterilize), ↑sterilizer (for: ↑sterilize)
• Hypernyms: ↑disinfect
• Hyponyms: ↑autoclave
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s something
2. make infertile
-
in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilites are sterilized
• Syn: ↑sterilize, ↑desex, ↑unsex, ↑desexualize, ↑desexualise, ↑fix
• Derivationally related forms: ↑fixing (for: ↑fix), ↑sterilisation, ↑sterilization (for: ↑sterilize)
• Hypernyms: ↑operate on, ↑operate
• Hyponyms:
↑alter, ↑neuter, ↑spay, ↑castrate, ↑emasculate, ↑demasculinize, ↑demasculinise, ↑vasectomize, ↑vasectomise
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s somebody
Useful english dictionary. 2012.