detoxification
/diːˌtɒksɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /diːˌtɑːksɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)dēˌtäksəfə̇ˈkāshən/ (ame, mw)
detoxification — noun
1. the act of taking dangerous chemicals, drugs, or other toxic matter out of a per
the act of taking dangerous chemicals, drugs, or other toxic matter out of a person's body or out of soil, water, or food, so that nothing harmful is left behind.
The liver plays the main role in the detoxification of alcohol after a heavy meal.
collocation: detoxification of [substance]
Stephanie drank green tea every morning, hoping it would help with natural detoxification.
Detoxification of the river took engineers more than three years after the factory leak.
Doctors at the clinic specialise in the detoxification of patients exposed to heavy metals.
Farmers use special bacteria for the detoxification of soil polluted by old pesticides.
- purification
broader; can apply to spiritual or symbolic cleansing too
- decontamination
more technical; emphasises hazardous waste, radiation, or chemical spills
- cleansing
more general and everyday; not specifically about toxins
- contamination
the opposite process — adding harmful substances
文法句型
detoxification of [substance/system]
用法筆記
Subject of the process is usually an organ (the liver, the kidneys) or a deliberate cleaning effort applied to a substance, body of water, or soil. Frequently appears with 'of' naming the polluted thing.
常見錯誤
2. a medical programme designed to help someone stop using alcohol or addictive dru
a medical programme designed to help someone stop using alcohol or addictive drugs, by safely managing the bodily reactions that follow when the substance leaves their system.
Tariq spent three weeks in detoxification before joining a long-term recovery group.
pattern: in detoxification (treatment setting)
The hospital opened a new wing for the detoxification of patients with severe alcohol problems.
Doctors said Constanza needed medical detoxification because of her long history of heroin use.
Many clinics now offer outpatient detoxification for people who cannot leave their families.
Owen finished detoxification last month and is now attending weekly counselling sessions.
- rehab
informal; often covers a longer programme that includes therapy as well as withdrawal
- withdrawal treatment
describes the same medical process but focuses on managing withdrawal symptoms
文法句型
undergo detoxification
in detoxification
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 names a clinical programme a person enters, not a chemical process. Typical subjects are people, not substances; common verbs are 'undergo', 'enter', 'complete', 'need'. Sense 1's subject is usually an organ or cleanup operation.