detoxicate

[dee-tok-si-keyt]

verb (used with object)

detoxicated, detoxicating 

1. to detoxify.

detoxicate

/ diːˈtɒksɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to rid (a patient) of a poison or its effects

2. to counteract (a poison)

Other Word Forms

• detoxicant adjective
• detoxication noun
• detoxicator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of detoxicate¹

1865–70; de- + Latin toxic ( um ) poison ( toxic ) + -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of detoxicate¹

C19: _de- + -toxicate, from Latin toxicum poison; see _toxic

Example Sentences

Potentiation seems to take place when one compound destroys the liver enzyme responsible for detoxicating the other.

From The New Yorker

Ordinarily these substances are rendered harmless either before absorption or are detoxicated in the liver to harmless substances.

From Project Gutenberg