antiseptic — preventing the growth of disease-causing microorganisms
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: preventing the growth of disease-causing microorganisms
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌæntɪˈseptɪk/
Example Sentences
- The surgeon's hands were scrubbed with antiseptic before the operation.
- My grandmother's house is so clean it feels like an antiseptic hospital ward.
- The antiseptic smell in the dentist's office always makes me nervous.
antiseptic
ADJECTIVE[/ˌæntɪˈseptɪk/]
preventing the growth of disease-causing microorganisms
The nurse applies antiseptic to the child's scraped knee before bandaging it.
The doctor explained that antiseptic treatment helps stop harmful germs from infecting the wound. (Think of: ANTI = AGAINST, SEPTIC = INFECTION)
The antiseptic kept the wound from becoming septic during the hectic emergency.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Greek 'anti-' (against) combined with 'septikos' (putrefying), derived from 'sepsis' (decay or putrefaction). The term was formed in the 19th century to describe substances that prevent bacterial infection.
Breakdown
anti- (against) + sept- (decay/putrefaction, from Greek sepsis) + -ic (adjective suffix) = antiseptic
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The surgeon's hands were scrubbed with antiseptic before the operation.”
“My grandmother's house is so clean it feels like an antiseptic hospital ward.”
“The antiseptic smell in the dentist's office always makes me nervous.”
“She carried antiseptic wipes everywhere like they were her lucky charms.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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