How Do You Spell GERMICIDAL?

Pronunciation: [d͡ʒˌɜːmɪsˈa͡ɪdə͡l] (IPA)

The word "germicidal" is spelled with the prefix "germi-" derived from the Latin word "germen" meaning "seed" or "sprout", while the suffix "-cidal" is derived from the Latin word "caedis" meaning "killing" or "killer". The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /dʒərˈmɪsɪdəl/. The emphasis is on the second syllable, with the sound of /dʒ/ at the beginning, followed by the vowel sound of /ɪ/. The final syllable of "-idal" is pronounced with the sound of /dəl/. The word germicidal refers to a substance or action that kills germs, bacterias, viruses or other microorganisms.

GERMICIDAL Meaning and Definition

1. Germicidal is an adjective that describes something as having the power or capability to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, particularly harmful ones such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. The term is derived from the word "germicide," which refers to a substance or agent that destroys germs.

   Germicidal products or methods are designed to provide effective sanitation and disinfection by eliminating or reducing the number of harmful microorganisms on surfaces, in the air, or in liquids. These may include chemicals, such as disinfectants or sanitizers, which are used in medical, healthcare, or cleaning settings to ensure the elimination of bacteria and viruses that could cause infections or diseases. Germicidal agents can also be found in various household disinfectant sprays, wipes, or liquid solutions that help maintain hygienic conditions and prevent the spread of illness-causing germs.

   UV germicidal lamps are another example of germicidal technology used to kill or inactivate microorganisms by emitting ultraviolet (UV) light at specific wavelengths. This light can penetrate the cell walls of microorganisms and disrupt their DNA, preventing them from reproducing and rendering them harmless.

   In summary, germicidal refers to the property or capacity of a substance, product, or method to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, particularly those that cause harmful infections or diseases.

2. Destructive to germs.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Top Common Misspellings for GERMICIDAL *

• germicadal 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for GERMICIDAL

• genicidal
• fermicidal
• vermicidal
• bermicidal
• hermicidal
• yermicidal
• termicidal
• gwrmicidal
• germacidal
• germisidal
• germicidad
• Germaciddal
• vermicidial
• germicidae

Etymology of GERMICIDAL

The word "germicidal" is derived from the combination of two words: "germ" and "cide".

The word "germ" originates from the Latin "germen" which means "sprout", "bud", or "seed". Over time, "germen" came to refer to the "origin" or "source" of something, and eventually evolved to specifically represent microorganisms or disease-causing agents.

The second part of the word, "cide", comes from Latin as well, from the term "caedere" meaning "to kill" or "to cut down". "Cide" is commonly used in English to indicate the destruction or killing of something.

Therefore, "germicidal" combines these two components to convey the idea of something that is capable of killing germs or microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses.

Similar spelling words for GERMICIDAL

• germicide,
• germ cell.