Sterile
/ˈsterəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Sterile describes something very clean without any germs, so nothing can grow there. It can also mean a person or animal that cannot have babies or plants that cannot make seeds. The word is often used in medicine, farming, and science.
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See It in Action
Free from germs or bacteria; very clean and safe
- •The surgeon wore sterile gloves before the operation.
- •Sterile instruments are important to prevent infection.
- •The laboratory must be kept sterile to avoid contamination.
Unable to produce children or plants
- •Some animals in the zoo are sterile and cannot have babies.
- •The soil was sterile and did not grow any crops.
- •After treatment, the patient became sterile and could not have children.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "sterile" like "clean," but much stronger—so clean that no tiny living things can live or grow
- ✓Picture a hospital room where everything looks shiny and no dirt or germs are anywhere
- ✓It feels safe and controlled, like when you want to avoid any sickness or infection
- ✓Sounds like "STIR-ile" → imagine stirring a clean glass of water with no dirt or bugs inside
- ✓Think of a garden where no plants grow because the soil is dry and empty—this is like sterile soil with no life
- ✓NOT like "clean" (which can have some dirt or germs), "sterile" means totally free of germs or life
- ✓NOT like "barren" (empty land), "sterile" can also mean no germs or no ability to produce babies
- ✓NOT like "fertile" (good for growing), "sterile" means no growth or no babies possible
Try Other Words
- •Germ-free: meaning completely without germs (Use when talking about cleanliness and health)
- •Infertile: meaning unable to have children or plants (Use when talking about living things that cannot reproduce)
- •Barren: meaning land that cannot grow plants (Use when talking about soil or land with no growth)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "sterile" comes from Latin root "sterilis" meaning unfruitful or barren
- •Etymology: From Latin "sterilis," used to describe land that does not produce crops or people who cannot have children
- •Historical development: Originally used for land or people unable to produce offspring; later extended to mean very clean or free from germs
- •Modern usage: Used in medicine for germ-free conditions and in biology/agriculture for inability to reproduce or grow
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of something being sterile change when talking about hospitals versus nature?
•Can something be sterile but still feel uncomfortable or cold? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.Surgeons must use sterile ___ to stop germs from entering the body during surgery.
2.The soil was sterile, so no plants could ___ there.
3.When a person is sterile, they cannot ___ children naturally.
4.Sterile conditions in a lab help prevent ___ from spreading.
5.Unlike clean rooms, sterile rooms have ___ bacteria or germs.
6.The gardener was worried because the ground seemed ___ and ___ of life.
7.After the treatment, the patient became sterile and had to ___ other options for children.