verb

disinfect

disinfect, sterilise

You should disinfect the wound.

You should disinfect the wound.

She disinfected the kitchen counter.

She disinfected the kitchen counter.

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

Synonyms: sterilise, sanitise, clean; Antonyms: infect, contaminate

From the prefix 'dis-' (not, opposite of) + 'infect' (to contaminate with disease). Literally 'to remove infection'.

Think of 'dis-' as getting rid of something, in this case, getting rid of germs that 'infect'.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.