bacterize

verb

bac·​te·​rize ˈbak-tə-ˌrīz How to pronounce bacterize (audio)
bacterized; bacterizing

transitive verb

: to subject to bacterial action
bacterization
ˌbak-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce bacterize (audio)
noun

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacterize was in 1914

Dictionary Entries Near bacterize

bacteriuria

bacterize

bacteroid

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Bacterize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacterize. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

bacterize

transitive verb
bac·​te·​rize
variants or British bacterise
ˈbak-tə-ˌrīz How to pronounce bacterize (audio)
bacterized or British bacterised; bacterizing or British bacterising
: to subject to bacterial action
bacterization noun
or British bacterisation
ˌbak-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce bacterize (audio)
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

More Words with Remarkable Origins

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
confused man standing between two doors
One Word or Two? Take the Quiz! Some words just need a little space.