denature

  1. Verb.  to take away a natural characteristic or inherent property of a thing or a person.
  2. Verb.  (context, in reference to alcohol) to add something that makes alcohol unsuitable for consumption but leaves the alcohol suitable for other purposes.
  3. Verb.  (context, chemistry) To subject (especially a protein) to conditions altering its original form or state.
  4. Verb.  To combine fissionable material with nonfissionable material in order to prevent its use in an atomic weapon.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.