Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

autoclave

Pronunciation: /ˈɔːtə(ʊ)kleɪv/

Definition of autoclave

noun

  • a strong heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes using high pressures and temperatures, e.g. steam sterilization.

verb

[with object]
  • heat (something) in an autoclave: this follows recent advice that dental equipment be autoclaved after consultations

Origin:

late 19th century: from French, from auto- 'self' + Latin clavus 'nail' or clavis 'key' (so named because it is self-fastening)

autoclave in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of autoclave in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More results for autoclave

Result list for autoclave

More words in this category

Word of the day

merrythought

/ /
noun
the wishbone of a bird …