1make (something) free from bacteria or other living microorganisms:babies' feeding equipment can be cleaned and sterilized (as adjective sterilized)sterilized jars
2deprive (a person or animal) of the ability to produce offspring, typically by removing or blocking the sex organs:she fell pregnant despite having been sterilized
make (land or water) unable to produce crops or support life:a Scandinavian lake has been sterilized by rain made acid
