verb

disinfect

to disinfect, to sterilize

You should disinfect the wound to prevent infection.

You should disinfect the wound to prevent infection.

She disinfected all the surfaces in the kitchen.

She disinfected all the surfaces in the kitchen.

((sth.)) to clean (sth.) to destroy bacteria. You should disinfect the wound.

Synonyms: sterilize, sanitize, cleanse; Antonyms: infect, contaminate

From the prefix 'dis-' (apart, away) and 'infect' (to taint). Literally 'to remove infection'.

Think of 'dis-' as 'undoing' or 'removing' the 'infection'.

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