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sterna
sterngear
sternite
Sterno
sterno-
sternoclavicular
sternocostal
sternpost
sternsheets
sternson
sternum
sternutation
sternutatory
sternward
sternway
steroid
sterol
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sterilize
ster·il·ize [ stérrə lz ] (past and past participle ster·il·ized, present participle ster·il·iz·ing, 3rd person present singular ster·il·iz·es)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. destroy microorganisms: to kill all living microorganisms in something in order to make it incapable of causing infection
2. make infertile: to stop a person or animal from reproducing, e.g. by surgical removal or alteration of reproductive organs

ster·il·i·za·tion [ stèrrəli záysh'n ] noun
ster·il·iz·er noun
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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