sonicate

verb

son·​i·​cate ˈsä-nə-ˌkāt 

sonicated; sonicating

transitive verb

: to disrupt (something) by exposure to high-frequency sound waves

sonicate bacterial cells

sonication

ˌsä-nə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Word History

Etymology

sonic + -ate entry 4

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sonicate

1 of 2 transitive verb

son·​i·​cate ˈsän-ə-ˌkāt 

sonicated; sonicating

: to disrupt (as bacterial cells) by exposure to high-frequency sound waves

sonication

ˌsän-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

sonicate

2 of 2 noun

son·​i·​cate -kət 

: a product of sonication

a bacterial sonicate