1. (v. t.) To make sterile or unproductive; to impoverish, as land; to exhaust of fertility.

2. (v. t.) To deprive of the power of reproducing; to render incapable of germination or fecundation; to make sterile.

3. (v. t.) To destroy all spores or germs in (an organic fluid or mixture), as by heat, so as to prevent the development of bacterial or other organisms.

alter antisepticize autoclave boil castrate change chlorinate clean cleanse decontaminate delouse demasculinize depurate desex desexualize devitalize disinfect effeminize emasculate enervate etiolate exhaust fix fumigate geld hygienize mutilate neuter pasteurize purify sanitate sanitize spay unman unnerve unsex