Denatured: meaning, definitions and examples

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denatured

 

[ dɪˈneɪʧərd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

chemistry process

Denatured refers to a substance, typically alcohol, that has been treated to alter its chemical structure, often making it unsuitable for consumption. This process is used to discourage recreational drinking and make the substance safer for use in industrial or laboratory applications.

Synonyms

altered, modified, treated.

Examples of usage

  • The denatured alcohol was used as a cleaning agent.
  • He bought denatured ethanol for his experiments.
  • Denatured proteins can no longer fulfill their biological functions.

Translations

Translations of the word "denatured" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desnaturalizado

🇮🇳 अविकृत

🇩🇪 denaturiert

🇮🇩 denaturasi

🇺🇦 денатурований

🇵🇱 denaturowany

🇯🇵 変性した

🇫🇷 dénaturé

🇪🇸 desnaturalizado

🇹🇷 denatüre edilmiş

🇰🇷 변성된

🇸🇦 مُعَدَّل

🇨🇿 denaturovaný

🇸🇰 denaturovaný

🇨🇳 变性

🇸🇮 denaturiran

🇮🇸 denatureraður

🇰🇿 денаaturation

🇬🇪 დენატურირებული

🇦🇿 denatürləşdirilmiş

🇲🇽 desnaturalizado

Etymology

The term 'denatured' comes from the prefix 'de-' which indicates removal or reversal and 'nature' which pertains to the chemical or biological pattern of a substance. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, methods of denaturing alcohols were developed to deter misuse, marking a shift in the policy around substances considered dangerous when consumed in an uncontrolled manner. The processes became standardized, leading to regulatory frameworks that recognize denatured alcohol as a legitimate product for industrial use, thus separating it from consumable spirits.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,654, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.