antimicrobial
antimicrobial — adjective
- antimicrobialpositive
- more antimicrobialcomparative
- most antimicrobialsuperlative
1. describes a substance or product that stops the growth of or kills harmful micro
describes a substance or product that stops the growth of or kills harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi
Many hand soaps now contain antimicrobial ingredients to kill germs.
antimicrobial ingredients
The night-shift nurse used an antimicrobial spray to clean the wound.
antimicrobial spray
Copper surfaces are known for their natural antimicrobial properties.
Doctors warn that overusing antimicrobial products may lead to resistant bacteria.
- antibacterial
narrower in scope — only effective against bacteria, not viruses or fungi
- germicidal
more technical register, often used for strong disinfectants in clinical settings
文法句型
antimicrobial + noun
be + antimicrobial
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns for specific substances (agents, ingredients, coatings) or product types (wipes, soaps, sprays). Subject is typically a material, product, or surface.
常見錯誤
antimicrobial — noun
- antimicrobialsingular
- antimicrobialsplural
1. a chemical substance or medicine that kills or stops the growth of harmful micro
a chemical substance or medicine that kills or stops the growth of harmful microorganisms, used to treat infections or prevent contamination
The doctor prescribed a strong antimicrobial to fight the lung infection.
a strong antimicrobial
Silver is used as a natural antimicrobial in some wound dressings.
The lab tested several antimicrobials against the new strain of bacteria.
Honey has been used as an antimicrobial for thousands of years.
Farmers use antimicrobials to keep livestock healthy, raising concerns about drug resistance.
- antibiotic
specifically targets bacteria; usually produced by or derived from living organisms
- antiseptic
used on living tissue to prevent infection; typically a topical agent
- disinfectant
used on surfaces or objects, not taken internally
文法句型
an + antimicrobial
antimicrobials (plural)
用法筆記
Countable noun — you can say 'an antimicrobial' or 'antimicrobials'. Common in medical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural contexts. Frequently paired with 'natural', 'broad-spectrum', or 'topical' as modifiers.