chlorinate

[ klawr-uh-neyt, klohr- ]

verb (used with object),chlo·ri·nat·ed, chlo·ri·nat·ing.
  1. Chemistry.

    • to combine or treat with chlorine.

    • to introduce chlorine atoms into an organic compound by an addition or substitution reaction.

  2. to disinfect (water) by means of chlorine.

  1. Metallurgy. to treat (a gold ore) with chlorine gas in order that the gold may be removed as a soluble chloride.

Origin of chlorinate

1
First recorded in 1855–60; chlorine + -ate1

Other words from chlorinate

  • chlo·ri·na·tion, noun
  • chlo·ri·na·tor, noun
  • hy·per·chlo·ri·na·tion, noun
  • post·chlo·ri·na·tion, adjective
  • un·chlo·ri·nat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chlorinate in a sentence

  • Dejecta should be covered with fresh chlorinated lime, one part to two of water.

  • It may also be made from benzene without converting it into phenol thus: The benzene is chlorinated and gives chlorbenzene.

  • “Sure, I know,” Brad acknowledged, easing his body snake-fashion down the pool wall into the chlorinated water.

  • Or, if the material stained is white linen or cotton try chlorinated soda.

  • The coffee tasted like quinine, since the water to be found was so bad that it had to be strongly chlorinated.

    Battery E in France | Frederic R. Kilner

British Dictionary definitions for chlorinate

chlorinate

/ (ˈklɔːrɪˌneɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to combine or treat (a substance) with chlorine

  2. to disinfect (water) with chlorine

Derived forms of chlorinate

  • chlorination, noun
  • chlorinator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for chlorinate

chlorinate

[ klôrə-nāt′ ]


  1. To add chlorine or one of its compounds to a substance. Water and sewage are chlorinated to be disinfected, and paper pulp is chlorinated to be bleached.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.