decontaminate
[ dee-kuh n-tam-uh-neyt ]
/ ˌdi kənˈtæm əˌneɪt /
verb (used with object), de·con·tam·i·nated, de·con·tam·i·nat·ing.
to make (an object or area) safe for unprotected personnel by removing, neutralizing, or destroying any harmful substance, as radioactive material or poisonous gas.
to make free of contamination; purify: to decontaminate a sickroom.
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Origin of decontaminate
First recorded in 1935–40; de- + contaminate
OTHER WORDS FROM decontaminate
de·con·tam·i·na·tion, nounde·con·tam·i·na·tive, adjectivede·con·tam·i·na·tor, nounWords nearby decontaminate
decongestive, deconsecrate, deconstruct, deconstructed, deconstruction, decontaminate, decontamination, decontextualize, decontrol, decorate, decorated
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for decontamination
British Dictionary definitions for decontamination
decontaminate
/ (ˌdiːkənˈtæmɪˌneɪt) /
verb
(tr) to render (an area, building, object, etc) harmless by the removal, distribution, or neutralization of poisons, radioactivity, etc
Derived forms of decontaminate
decontaminant, noundecontamination, noundecontaminative, adjectivedecontaminator, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for decontamination
decontamination
[ dē′kən-tăm′ə-nā′shən ]
n.
The removal or neutralization of a contaminating substance, such as poisonous gas or a radioactive material.
Other words from decontamination
de′con•tam′i•nate (-nāt′) v.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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