inactivate

[in-ak-tuh-veyt]

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verb (used with object), in·ac·ti·vat·ed, in·ac·ti·vat·ing.

to make inactive: The bomb was inactivated.

Immunology. to stop the activity of (certain biological substances).

Origin of inactivate

First recorded in 1905–10; inactive + -ate¹

Related formsin·ac·ti·va·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for inactivate

satisfy, hush, appease, muzzle, subdue, relax, muffle, assuage, please, soften, soothe, pacify, squelch, mollify, allay, defer, waive, bar, halt, eject

Examples from the Web for inactivate

Historical Examples of inactivate

Extracts in which no attempt was made to inactivate the enzymes present proved unsatisfactory.
Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae
William B. Stallcup

British Dictionary definitions for inactivate

inactivate

verb

(tr) to render inactive

Derived Formsinactivation, 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

inactivate in Medicine

inactivate

[ĭn-ăk′tə-vāt′]

v.

To render nonfunctional.

To make quiescent.

Related formsin•ac′ti•va′tion n.