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sterile

ster·ile

sterile

 
 
pronunciation:
ste rl
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Word Builder, Word Explorer
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: free of live germs or bacteria.
Dentists use sterile tools.
synonyms:
sanitary
antonyms:
contaminated, septic
similar words:
clean, disinfected, pure
definition 2: not able to produce children, plants, or fruit; not fertile.
This soil is sterile from too much use.
synonyms:
infertile
antonyms:
fertile
similar words:
fruitless
Word Combinations  About this feature
adverb + (adj.)sterile otherwise, supposedly, totally
(adj.)sterile + noun acid, architecture, atmosphere, bag, bandage, blade, bottle, broth, cage, cloth, condition, container, corridor, cotton, delivery, drape, dressing, environment, equipment, existence, filter, fish, fly, gauze, glove, gown, hallway, hospital, hybrid, infection, injection, insect, instrument, jar, laboratory, layer, male, mask, medium, mix, moth, mule, needle, offspring, operating, pack, package, packet, pad, plain, plastic, procedure, radiation, room, salmon, sample, scissors, seed, sheet, soil, solution, spoon, surgeon, technician, technique, tissue, towel, tube, vacuum, void, water [See all][See only the most frequent]
derivation: sterility (n.)
Word Builder: sterile +
  • sterilize:
    to make sterile.
Word Explorer
See
  bacteria, hygiene, reproduction