oxidizeverb [ I or T ]
UK usually oxidise uk/ˈɒk.sɪ.daɪz/us/ˈɑːk.sə.daɪz/If a substance oxidizes, it combines with oxygen and loses hydrogen to form another substance, and if something oxidizes a substance, it causes it to do this:
Iron oxidizes to form rust.
When you heat fat, it oxidizes easily.
If a chemical element oxidizes, it loses electrons (= very small pieces of matter with negative electrical charge) and if you oxidize it, you cause it to do this.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical & chemical processes
- addition reaction
- adiabatic
- adsorb
- advection
- alpha decay
- degradable
- diffraction
- dissolve
- exothermic reaction
- impregnate
- processus
- redox
- refraction
- rehydrate
- saponification
- scald
- secretion
- suction
- the carbon cycle
- vaporize
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oxidization
noun [ U ] UK usually oxidisation uk/ˌɒk.sɪ.daɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌɑːk.sə.dəˈzeɪ.ʃən/US usually oxidation,