bacterize

[bak-tuh-rahyz]

verb (used with object), bac·te·rized, bac·te·riz·ing.

to change in composition by means of bacteria.

Also especially British, bac·te·rise.

Origin of bacterize

First recorded in 1910–15; bacter- + -ize

Related formsbac·te·ri·za·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018