biocide

American  

[bahy-uh-sahyd] / ˈbaɪ əˌsaɪd /

noun

1. any chemical that destroys life by poisoning, especially a pesticide, herbicide, or fungicide.

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biocide British  

/ ˈbaɪəˌsaɪd /

noun

1. a chemical, such as a pesticide, capable of killing living organisms

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biocide Scientific  

/ bī′ə-sīd′ /

1. A chemical agent, such as a pesticide or herbicide, that is capable of destroying living organisms.

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Other Word Forms

• biocidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of biocide

First recorded in 1945–50; bio- + -cide

Example Sentences

And on the industrial end, silver’s uses are “exploding,” thanks to its status as the “best reflector of visible light, the most conductive metal for electricity and head, and its remarkable effectiveness as a natural biocide,” Gleason noted.

From MarketWatch

Dr Joshi, who is on the Microbiology Society Council and Co-Chairs their Impact & Influence Committee, added: "Understanding how these spores and disinfectants interact is integral to practical management of C. diff infection and reducing the burden of infection in healthcare settings. However, there are still unanswered questions regarding the extent of biocide tolerance within C. diff and whether it is affected by antibiotic co-tolerance. With AMR increasing globally, the need to find those answers -- both for C. diff and other superbugs -- has never been more pressing."

From Science Daily

No one is planning to inflict massive biocide like Thanos in the Marvel Avengers films.

From Scientific American

Ridgway speculated that the copper material of the box had acted as a fungicide and biocide to kill microorganisms that might otherwise have eaten the paper items within.

From Washington Post

The biocide paint tributyltin, known as TBT, protected Shell tankers from accruing algae, barnacles and mussels, but it also caused female murex mollusks to change their gender, impairing their ability to spawn.

From Washington Post