Meaning & use
denatured
Last updated
Having had its natural chemical or biological properties altered or destroyed, especially through heat, chemicals, or additives.
See it in a sentence
Denatured alcohol has additives that make it unsafe to drink but still useful as a cleaning solvent.
Cooking denatured the proteins in the egg white, turning it from clear to solid white.
A note on using this word
Common in chemistry and biology; 'denatured alcohol' specifically refers to ethanol treated with additives to make it undrinkable for tax and safety reasons.
Words with an opposite meaning
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