sterilisation
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The procedure of making an object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms: This refers to the process of destroying all microbial life, typically using methods like heat, chemicals, or radiation.
- The act of making an organism barren or infertile: This refers to the medical or surgical procedure that renders an individual (human or animal) incapable of reproduction.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Microbiological Context):
- Sterilisation of surgical instruments is essential to prevent infection.
- The milk undergoes a process of sterilisation to ensure it is safe for consumption.
- Noun (Biological/Surgical Context):
- The couple considered sterilisation as a permanent form of birth control.
- Vasectomy is a common method of male sterilisation.
Advanced Usage
- "Forced sterilisation": A coercive practice of making individuals infertile against their will, often discussed in historical, ethical, and human rights contexts.
- The report condemned the country's history of forced sterilisation of minority groups.
Variants and Related Words
- Sterilise (verb, UK spelling) / Sterilize (verb, US spelling): To perform the act of sterilisation.
- You must sterilize the baby's bottles.
- The animal was sterilised to control the local population.
- Sterile (adjective):
- Free from living microorganisms.
- The surgeon's gloves must be sterile.
- Incapable of producing offspring; barren.
- The hybrid plant was sterile.
- Steriliser (noun) / Sterilizer (noun): A device used for sterilisation.
- We bought a new steam steriliser for the kitchen.
Synonyms
- Disinfection: The process of cleaning something to destroy bacteria (note: disinfection reduces microbes but may not eliminate all, unlike sterilisation).
- Pasteurisation: A process using heat to destroy pathogens in liquids, but not necessarily all microorganisms (a specific, less absolute form of treatment).
- Fumigation: Using gas to disinfect or purify an area.
- Neutering (for animals) / Surgical contraception: Terms related specifically to the biological meaning of making infertile.
Related Phrases
- Sterilisation cycle: The complete sequence of operations in a sterilising device.
- The autoclave completes a sterilisation cycle in 20 minutes.
- Sterilisation validation: The documented process of proving that a sterilisation procedure is effective.
- The factory conducts regular sterilisation validation tests.
Related Idioms
Noun
- the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means)
- the act of making an organism barren or infertile (unable to reproduce)