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.
Origin of decontaminate
First recorded in 1935–40;
de- +
contaminate
OTHER WORDS FROM decontaminate
de·con·tam·i·na·tion, noun de·con·tam·i·na·tive, adjective de·con·tam·i·na·tor, nounWords nearby decontaminate
decongestive,
deconsecrate,
deconstruct,
deconstructed,
deconstruction,
decontaminate,
decontamination,
decontextualize,
decontrol,
decorate,
decorated
Example sentences from the Web for decontaminate
British Dictionary definitions for decontaminate
decontaminate
/ (ˌdiːkənˈtæmɪˌneɪt) /
verb
(tr)
to render (an area, building, object, etc) harmless by the removal, distribution, or neutralization of poisons, radioactivity, etc