sterile

Pronunciation

• enPR: stĕrʹīl" or stĕrʹəl
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈstɛraɪl/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈstɛrəl/

• Audio (UK)

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• Audio (US)

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Adjective

Positive sterile

Comparative more sterile

Superlative most sterile

1. A sterile person or animal cannot make babies, even if they have sex.

   Because Mr. and Mrs. Jones are sterile, they adopted a child.

2. (medicine) If something is sterile it has no living things, especially bacteria.

   Please use a sterile bandage to cover your wound.

Related words

• sterilize/sterilise