autoclave
Noun:
- A pressure chamber used for sterilization: An autoclave is a device that uses steam under pressure to kill harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores on items placed inside a pressure vessel.
- A device for heating substances above their boiling point: In industrial or laboratory contexts, an autoclave can be used for chemical reactions or processes requiring high temperatures and pressures.
Verb:
- To sterilize using an autoclave: The action of subjecting instruments, laboratory glassware, or other materials to the high-pressure steam inside an autoclave to achieve sterilization.
Noun:
- The surgical instruments were placed in the autoclave for sterilization.
- The laboratory uses an industrial autoclave for processing composite materials.
Verb:
- You must autoclave all pipette tips before use in the sterile procedure.
- The media was autoclaved to ensure it was free from contamination.
"To run an autoclave cycle": To operate the autoclave through its complete sterilization process.
- After loading the trays, the technician started to run the autoclave cycle.
"Autoclave tape": A type of adhesive tape used on items being sterilized; specific stripes appear when the correct temperature has been reached, indicating the item has been processed.
- The presence of the dark stripes on the autoclave tape confirmed the package had been sterilized.
Autoclaving (gerund/noun): The process or act of using an autoclave.
- Autoclaving is the most reliable method for sterilizing lab equipment.
Sterilizer (noun): A more general term for a device that sterilizes, which can include autoclaves.
- The clinic purchased a new tabletop sterilizer (autoclave).
- Pressure sterilizer: A device that uses pressure for sterilization.
- Steam sterilizer: Specifically denotes the use of steam as the sterilizing agent.
"Autoclave-safe": Describes materials that can withstand the high heat and pressure of autoclaving without degrading.
- Make sure all containers are labeled as autoclave-safe before processing.
"Gravity displacement autoclave": A common type of autoclave where steam forces air out of the chamber by gravity.
- A gravity displacement autoclave is sufficient for most laboratory solid waste.
(There are no common idioms specifically using the word "autoclave." It is a technical term primarily used in scientific, medical, and industrial contexts.)
- a device for heating substances above their boiling point; used to manufacture chemicals or to sterilize surgical instruments
- subject to the action of an autoclave