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Sterile: meaning, definitions and examples

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sterile

 

[ ˈster.əl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

medical equipment

Free from bacteria or other living microorganisms; totally clean and hygienic.

Synonyms

aseptic, clean, sanitary

Examples of usage

  • The surgeon scrubbed his hands until they were sterile before starting the operation.
  • The laboratory technician wore sterile gloves while handling the samples.
Context #2 | Adjective

environment

Lacking in interest, excitement, or vitality; unproductive.

Synonyms

boring, dull, lifeless

Examples of usage

  • The sterile conversation at the party made it difficult to stay engaged.
  • The artist felt uninspired and trapped in a sterile environment.

Translations

Translations of the word "sterile" in other languages:

🇵🇹 estéril

🇮🇳 निष्फल

🇩🇪 steril

🇮🇩 steril

🇺🇦 стерильний

🇵🇱 sterylne

🇯🇵 無菌の (mukin no)

🇫🇷 stérile

🇪🇸 estéril

🇹🇷 steril

🇰🇷 멸균의 (myeolgyun-ui)

🇸🇦 معقم (mu'aqqam)

🇨🇿 sterilní

🇸🇰 sterilný

🇨🇳 无菌的 (wújūn de)

🇸🇮 sterilen

🇮🇸 sóthreinsað

🇰🇿 стерильді

🇬🇪 სტერილური

🇦🇿 steril

🇲🇽 estéril

Word origin

The word 'sterile' originated from the Latin word 'sterilis', meaning 'barren' or 'unproductive'. Over time, its usage evolved to include the medical sense of being free from microorganisms. The concept of sterility has been important in various fields, from medicine to agriculture, highlighting the importance of cleanliness and lack of contamination.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,227 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.