Meaning & use
antiseptic
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Preventing infection by killing or stopping the growth of microorganisms on skin or wounds.
Grammar: Usually used before a noun: antiseptic cream, antiseptic solution.
Patterns
- antiseptic cream
- antiseptic solution
- antiseptic properties
Apply antiseptic cream to the cut twice a day.
The nurse cleaned the wound with an antiseptic solution.
Honey has natural antiseptic properties.
nouncountable or uncountable
A substance applied to skin or wounds to prevent infection.
Grammar: Can be countable (an antiseptic) or uncountable (a bottle of antiseptic).
Patterns
- use an antiseptic
- apply antiseptic to something
- a bottle of antiseptic
She put an antiseptic on the scrape.
The first-aid kit contains bandages and antiseptic.
Always use an antiseptic before bandaging a wound.
Word forms
| plural | antiseptics |
|---|
Common combinations
- antiseptic cream
- He spread antiseptic cream on the insect bite.
- antiseptic wipe
- Clean the area with an antiseptic wipe first.
- antiseptic properties
- Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic properties.
- apply antiseptic
- Apply antiseptic to the wound and cover it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disinfectant
- Used mainly on surfaces and objects, not on skin; antiseptic is for living tissue.
- antibacterial
- Focuses on killing bacteria; antiseptic also acts against other microorganisms and is used on skin.
- sterile
- Means free of all microorganisms, not a substance that kills them.
Opposites
Word family
- antiseptically adverb
- In a way that prevents infection; rarely used.
Commonly confused: antiseptic or disinfectant? antiseptic or antibiotic?
antiseptic vs disinfectant
Disinfectant is for cleaning surfaces, while antiseptic is safe for skin and wounds.
antiseptic vs antibiotic
Antibiotics are medicines taken internally to kill bacteria; antiseptics are applied to the skin.
Practice
You should use an antiseptic on a cut because it ______.
Choose one answer.
Antiseptics are applied to skin to prevent infection. Option 1 is too strong; they don't guarantee faster healing. Option 2 is wrong because disinfectants are for surfaces. Option 3 is wrong because antiseptics are for living tissue.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “antiseptic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.