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.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
decongestive, deconsecrate, deconstruct, deconstructed, deconstruction, decontaminate, decontamination, decontextualize, decontrol, decorate, decorated
Origin of decontaminate
Related forms
de·con·tam·i·na·tion, nounde·con·tam·i·na·tive, adjectivede·con·tam·i·na·tor, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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
decontaminant, noundecontamination, noundecontaminative, adjectivedecontaminator, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine 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.
Related forms
de′con•tam′i•nate (-nāt′) v.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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