inactivate

transitive-verb
UK: /ɪnˈæktɪveɪt/
US: /ɪnˈæktɪveɪt/

  1. To make something not active or effective.

    1. Heat can inactivate the enzyme and stop the reaction completely.
    2. The new security system will inactivate automatically if someone tries to break in.

  2. To stop a device or system from working, often temporarily.

    1. They had to inactivate the alarm before entering the building carefully.
    2. The virus can inactivate the computer's firewall, leaving it vulnerable to attacks.

Synonyms

deactivate nullify disable
inactivate intransitive-verb

  1. To become inactive, losing the ability to function.

    1. The yeast will inactivate if the temperature gets too high around it.
    2. Certain chemicals cause the catalytic converter to inactivate quickly, reducing performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "inactivate" in English means: To make something not active or effective., To stop a device or system from working, often temporarily..

The phonetic transcription of "inactivate" is /ɪnˈæktɪveɪt/ in British English and /ɪnˈæktɪveɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "inactivate": deactivate, nullify, disable.

Example usage of "inactivate": "Heat can inactivate the enzyme and stop the reaction completely.". More examples on the page.