chlorinate

[ klawr-uh-neyt, klohr- ]

/ ˈklɔr əˌneɪt, ˈkloʊr- /

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verb (used with object), chlo·ri·nat·ed, chlo·ri·nat·ing.

Chemistry.

to combine or treat with chlorine.
to introduce chlorine atoms into an organic compound by an addition or substitution reaction.

to disinfect (water) by means of chlorine.

Metallurgy. to treat (a gold ore) with chlorine gas in order that the gold may be removed as a soluble chloride.

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Origin of chlorinate

First recorded in 1855–60; chlorine + -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM chlorinate

chlo·ri·na·tion, nounchlo·ri·na·tor, nounhy·per·chlo·ri·na·tion, nounpost·chlo·ri·na·tion, adjective

un·chlo·ri·nat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chlorinate in a sentence

According to a press release, Lake Jackson does routinely chlorinate its water supply twice a year.
Brain-eating amoebae are very rare, but warming waters may change that|Kat Eschner|September 29, 2020|Popular-Science
The most complete description of the chlorination process which has yet been published.
A Textbook of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines.|Cornelius Beringer and John Jacob Beringer
Chlorination of this substance gave a monochloracetic acid; we will assume the chlorine atom to replace the b hydrogen atom.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1|Various
As calciners they are used in tin mines and for the chlorination of silver ores.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various

At Mount Morgan the process known as chlorination has been developed on a larger scale than has elsewhere been attempted.
The Last Voyage|Lady (Annie Allnutt) Brassey
When gold occurs along with metallic sulphides it is often extracted by chlorination.
An Elementary Study of Chemistry|William McPherson

British Dictionary definitions for chlorinate

chlorinate

/ (ˈklɔːrɪˌneɪt) /

verb (tr)

to combine or treat (a substance) with chlorine

to disinfect (water) with chlorine

Derived forms of chlorinate

chlorination, nounchlorinator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for chlorinate

chlorinate

[ klôr′ə-nāt′ ]

To add chlorine or one of its compounds to a substance. Water and sewage are chlorinated to be disinfected, and paper pulp is chlorinated to be bleached.