sterilised

/ˈster.ɪ.laɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈster.ə.laɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈster-ə-ˌlīz How to pronounce sterilize (audio)/ (ame, mw)

sterilised — verb

  • sterilisedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • steriliseds3rd person singular
  • steriliseding-ing form
  • sterilisededpast simple

1. the past tense and past participle of 'sterilise' in its hygiene sense, used whe

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

the past tense and past participle of 'sterilise' in its hygiene sense, used when someone removed all bacteria and other tiny living organisms from a tool, bottle, surface, or similar object

例句

Before the first patient arrived, Rin sterilised the dental tools with steam.

sterilised + object with steam before treatment

The nurse sterilised the baby's bottles after the long train journey.

同義詞
  • disinfected

    usually means harmful germs were reduced, not necessarily every microorganism removed

  • sanitized

    common for making something hygienic enough for normal use, outside strict medical settings

  • decontaminated

    broader and often used when dangerous substances, not only germs, were removed

反義詞
  • contaminated

    describes something made dirty or unsafe by harmful material or germs

文法句型

sterilised + object

be sterilised before use

sterilised with steam

用法筆記

This form is used for a completed cleaning action and also after be or have in passive and perfect patterns. It is stronger than 'disinfected' because it suggests removing all living microorganisms, not just reducing the number of germs.

常見錯誤

❌The bottles were sterilise before the feed.
✅The bottles were sterilised before the feed.
💡after 'were', use the past participle form 'sterilised'.
❌Soap sterilised the mud off the table.
✅Soap cleaned the mud off the table.
💡sterilised is about killing microorganisms, not simply removing visible dirt.

2. the past tense and past participle of 'sterilise' when a doctor or clinic ended

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

the past tense and past participle of 'sterilise' when a doctor or clinic ended a person's ability to have children, usually through surgery

例句

After their third child, Yara chose to be sterilised at the city hospital.

choose to be sterilised after having children

The surgeon sterilised Tomas only after reading the consent form aloud.

sterilised + person after consent

同義詞
  • vasectomized

    narrower because it refers only to the male procedure

  • neutered

    used mainly for animals and sounds less appropriate for human medical contexts

  • spayed

    used for female animals rather than people

文法句型

sterilised + somebody

be sterilised after surgery

sterilised without consent

用法筆記

This form often appears in medical, legal, or historical discussion and is commonly used in the passive. It refers to a permanent result, not a temporary birth-control method.

常見錯誤

❌The clinic sterilised her for six months.
✅The clinic explained that sterilisation is usually permanent.
💡this sense does not describe temporary birth control.
❌He was sterilise after the operation.
✅He was sterilised after the operation.
💡after 'was', use the past participle form 'sterilised'.