autoclave

American  

[aw-tuh-kleyv] / ˈɔ təˌkleɪv /

noun

1. a heavy vessel for conducting chemical reactions under high pressure.

2. pressure cooker.

3. Medicine/Medical, Bacteriology. an apparatus in which steam under pressure effects sterilization.

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verb (used with object)

autoclaved, autoclaving

1. to place in an autoclave.

autoclave British  

/ ˈɔːtəˌkleɪv /

noun

1. a strong sealed vessel used for chemical reactions at high pressure

2. an apparatus for sterilizing objects (esp surgical instruments) or for cooking by means of steam under pressure

3. civil engineering a vessel in which freshly cast concrete or sand-lime bricks are cured very rapidly in high-pressure steam

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verb

1. (tr) to put in or subject to the action of an autoclave

autoclave Scientific  

/ ô′tō-klāv′ /

1. An airtight steel vessel used to heat substances and objects under very high pressures. Autoclaves are used in laboratory experiments and for sterilization.

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Etymology

Origin of autoclave

1875–80; < French, equivalent to auto- auto- ¹ + clave < Latin clāv-, stem of clāvis key and clāvus nail

Example Sentences

In one of Halt's buildings they have a huge machine called an autoclave, consisting mainly of two large horizontal tubes.

From BBC

She transferred and adhered the nanotube forest in between the two middle layers of the composite, then cooked the material in an autoclave to cure.

From Science Daily

We sent a small autoclave—a machine that creates elevated temperatures and pressures—filled with water and flakes of graphene oxide, which we use as a starting ingredient.

From Scientific American

Currently, aerospace composites are cured in pressurised ovens called autoclaves, which devour space and energy.

From Reuters

Dr. Degroot’s paper details many of the findings from inspections and tests that revealed gloveboxes and sterilizing autoclaves that cracked, leaked or flooded.

From New York Times

Related Words

• castrate
• decontaminate
• disinfect
• neuter
• pasteurize
• sanitize
• spay