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denature

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De Nature
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de⋅na⋅ture

  [dee-ney-cher]
Use denature in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -tured, -tur⋅ing.
1. to deprive (something) of its natural character, properties, etc.
2. to render (any of various alcohols) unfit for drinking by adding an unwholesome substance that does not alter usefulness for other purposes.
3. Biochemistry. to treat (a protein or the like) by chemical or physical means so as to alter its original state.
4. to make (fissionable material) unsuitable for use in an atomic weapon by mixing it with unfissionable material.
Origin:
1675–85; de- + nature

Related forms:
de⋅na⋅tur⋅ant, noun
de⋅na⋅tur⋅a⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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De Nature
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de·na·ture   (dē-nā'chər)   
tr.v.   de·na·tured, de·na·tur·ing, de·na·tures

  1. To change the nature or natural qualities of.

  2. To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially to add methanol to (ethyl alcohol).

  3. Biochemistry

    1. To cause the tertiary structure of (a protein) to unfold, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.

    2. To cause the paired strands of (double-stranded DNA) to separate into individual single strands.

  4. Physics To add nonfissionable matter to (fissionable material) so as to prevent use in an atomic weapon.

de·na'tur·ant n., de·na'tur·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·na·ture
Pronunciation: (')dE-'nA-ch&r
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: de·na·tured;de·na·tur·ing /-'nAch-(&-)ri[ng]/
Function: transitive verb
: to deprive of natural qualities: as a : to make(alcohol) unfit for drinking (as by adding an obnoxious substance) without impairing usefulness for other purposes b : to modify the molecular structure of (as a protein or DNA)especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so as to destroy or diminish some of the original properties and especially the specific biological activity denature intransitivesenses
: to become denatured
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

denature de·na·ture (dē-nā'chər)
v. de·na·tured, de·na·tur·ing, de·na·tures

  1. To change the nature or natural qualities of.

  2. To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially adding methyl alcohol to ethyl alcohol.

  3. To alter the chemical structure of a protein, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.

de·na'tur·a'tion n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
denature   (dē-nā'chər)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. To cause the tertiary structure of a protein to unfold, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.

  2. To cause the paired strands of DNA to separate into individual strands.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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