autoclave
autoclave Lexical Profile
autoclave Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A strong, pressurized, heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes requiring high temperatures, most commonly used to sterilize medical or laboratory equipment.
"The lab technician placed the contaminated glass petri dishes into the autoclave to ensure all pathogens were destroyed."
• verb
To sterilize or process (equipment or materials) using a strong, pressurized, and heated container.
"Before starting the microbial culture, you must carefully autoclave the nutrient broth to prevent unwanted contamination."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French 'autoclave' in the 19th century, formed from the Greek prefix 'auto-' (self) and the Latin 'clavis' (key), referring originally to a vessel with a lid that becomes tighter or self-locking as the internal pressure increases.