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Meaning & use

irradiated

adjective, verb·Advancedtechnical

Last updated

UK/ɪˈreɪdieɪtɪd/
US/ɪˈreɪdieɪtɪd/

“irradiated” is a form of “irradiate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabletechnical

    Having been exposed to radiation, often deliberately to kill germs or to treat a disease.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: irradiated food, the food is irradiated.

    Patterns

    • irradiated food
    • be irradiated

    Some spices are irradiated to kill bacteria.

    The irradiated tissue was studied under a microscope.

    Non-irradiated fruit may spoil more quickly.

  2. verbtransitivetechnical

    The past tense and past participle of irradiate: exposed something to radiation or to a beam of light or rays.

    Grammar: Takes an object: they irradiated the samples.

    Patterns

    • irradiate something with something

    The lab irradiated the seeds with gamma rays.

    Doctors irradiated the tumor over several weeks.

    The blood was irradiated before transfusion.

Common combinations

irradiated food
Irradiated food must carry a label in many countries.
irradiated blood
Hospitals sometimes use irradiated blood for vulnerable patients.
irradiated with gamma rays
The grain was irradiated with gamma rays.
non-irradiated
The store sells only non-irradiated herbs.
irradiated tissue
Irradiated tissue can become damaged over time.

Synonyms and how they differ

exposed
Exposed is broader and not limited to radiation, so it is less precise than irradiated.
treated
Treated says something was processed without saying how, while irradiated names the radiation method.
sterilized
Sterilized describes the effect of killing germs, which irradiation can produce but is not the only way.
radiated
Radiated usually means sent out energy, rather than receiving it.

Opposites

unirradiatednon-irradiated

Word family

irradiate verb
to expose to radiation
irradiation noun
the process of exposure
radiation noun
energy sent out as waves or particles
radiant adjective
sending out light or heat

Commonly confused: irradiated or radioactive?

irradiated vs radioactive

Irradiated food is not radioactive; it was exposed to radiation but does not give it off.

Practice

The food was ___ to kill bacteria, but it is not radioactive.

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