noun
1. the act of making an organism barren or infertile (unable to reproduce)
• Syn: ↑sterilisation
• Derivationally related forms: ↑sterilise (for: ↑sterilisation), ↑sterilize
• Hypernyms: ↑operation, ↑surgery, ↑surgical operation, ↑surgical procedure, ↑surgical process
• Hyponyms: ↑neutering, ↑fixing, ↑altering, ↑surgical contraception
2. the procedure of making some object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms (usually by heat or chemical means)
• Syn: ↑sterilisation
• Derivationally related forms: ↑sterilise (for: ↑sterilisation), ↑sterilize
• Hyponyms: ↑pasteurization, ↑pasteurisation
Useful english dictionary. 2012.