Meaning & use
oxidize
Last updated
To combine chemically with oxygen, often causing rust, tarnish, or decay.
See it in a sentence
Iron left outside will oxidize and eventually turn to rust.
Sliced apples oxidize quickly, turning brown within minutes of exposure to air.
A note on using this word
In chemistry, "oxidize" more broadly means to lose electrons in a reaction, not only to react with oxygen.
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