The word "sterilize" is often misspelled. The correct spelling of "sterilize" is /ˈstɛrəlaɪz/. It can be confusing because of its suffix "-ize", which is commonly used in verbs that originate from Greek or Latin. But, the root word "sterile" is of French origin. Additionally, it is spelled with only one "l" and one "z" in American English. Double "l" and "z" are used in British English, which makes it even more confusing! Remember to spell it correctly next time you sterilize your things.
To sterilize means to eliminate or destroy all forms of life, especially microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses, rendering an object or environment free from pathogenic organisms that could cause infection or disease. This process aims to make something completely clean and safe for use, typically by using heat, chemicals, or other methods to kill or remove any potentially harmful organisms.
In medical and healthcare settings, sterilization is crucial to ensure the safety of patients and limit the spread of infections. This can include sterilizing medical equipment, instruments, surgical tools, and supplies before they are used in procedures, preventing the transmission of disease-causing agents.
The process of sterilization can involve various techniques such as heat sterilization (using steam or dry heat), sterilizing chemicals (like ethylene oxide or hydrogen peroxide), radiation (such as gamma rays or ultraviolet light), or filtration methods that remove or kill microorganisms. Each technique is tailored to the specific object or material being sterilized, taking into account factors like its heat resistance, sensitivity to chemicals, or ability to withstand radiation.
Beyond medical settings, sterilization is also commonly employed in the food industry to ensure the safety and extend the shelf life of perishable products. This includes techniques like pasteurization, canning, or irradiation, which eradicate or inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens in food.
In summary, sterilization refers to a process that eradicates all forms of life, particularly microorganisms, from an object or environment, making it free from harmful organisms and safe to use.
To render sterile; to castrate; to make aseptic.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* 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.
The word "sterilize" has its roots in the Latin word "sterilis", meaning "barren" or "unfruitful". This Latin term eventually gave rise to the French word "steriliser", which meant "to make barren" or "to render infertile". The word later entered the English language in the 17th century with the same meaning. Over time, "sterilize" expanded its usage to refer to the process of making something free from bacteria, germs, or other microorganisms that can cause infection or disease.