Inactivating

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  inactivate \inactivate\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. {inactivated}; p.
     pr. & vb. n. {inactivating}.]
     to make inactive; as, boiling will inactivate most enzymes;
     acetylation of the antibiotic inactivated it.
  
     Syn: deactivate.


          [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
  
     Note: To inactivate an enzyme or chemical usually renders it
           permanently inactive; to inactivate a machine (as by
           turning a switch) may be reversible, and for machines
           and devices, the term {deactivate} is usually used. The
           distinction is worth preserving.
           [PJC]