decontamination

/ˌdiːkənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdiːkənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa)

1.名詞C1

釋義

work done to make a place, object, or person safe again by taking away poison, germs, radiation, or other harmful material.

例句

Workers started decontamination of the train car after the chemical spill.

pattern: decontamination of [place/object]

Mira supervised decontamination of the hospital room before the next patient arrived.

common setting: hospital room decontamination

同義詞

cleanup
more everyday and broader; it does not always suggest dangerous material
sanitization
usually about removing germs from surfaces rather than chemicals or radiation
sterilization
stronger and narrower; focuses on removing all living germs

反義詞

contamination
the harmful state or process that decontamination tries to reverse

文法句型

decontamination of [place/object/person]

for decontamination

用法筆記

Usually names a planned cleanup after chemicals, germs, or radiation are found. Often follows verbs such as 'begin', 'need', 'finish', or 'undergo', and is more formal than everyday 'clean-up'.

常見錯誤

❌The workers did a decontamination of the room.

✅The workers carried out decontamination of the room.

💡when you mean the process in general, 'decontamination' is usually uncountable.

❌The team did decontamination the truck.

✅The team decontaminated the truck.

💡before a direct object, use the verb 'decontaminate', not the noun 'decontamination'.

decontamination