Library / English Dictionary

DISINFECTANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease

Synonyms:

antimicrobial; antimicrobic; disinfectant; germicide

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("disinfectant" is a kind of...):

agent (a substance that exerts some force or effect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disinfectant"):

cetrimide (a cationic detergent that is a powerful disinfectant)

sodium hypochlorite (an unstable salt (NaOCl) used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant)

Derivation:

disinfect (destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing)

disinfectant (preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Preventing infection by inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms

Synonyms:

bactericidal; disinfectant; germicidal

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

antiseptic (thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms)

Derivation:

disinfect (destroy microorganisms or pathogens by cleansing)

disinfectant (an agent (as heat or radiation or a chemical) that destroys microorganisms that might carry disease)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Formaldehyde is readily soluble in water and is commonly distributed as a 37% solution in water; formalin, a 10% solution of formaldehyde in water, is used as a disinfectant and to preserve biological specimens.

(Formaldehyde, NCI Thesaurus)