denature
|de-na-ture|
🇺🇸
/diːˈneɪtʃər/
🇬🇧
/diːˈneɪtʃə/
remove or alter natural qualities
Etymology
'denature' originates from French, specifically the word 'dénaturer', ultimately built from Latin elements 'de-' + 'natura' where 'de-' meant 'away from' and 'natura' meant 'nature'.
'denature' changed from French 'dénaturer' (18th–19th c.) and entered English usage as 'denature' with meanings tied to altering 'nature'; the formation reflects Latin 'natura' passing through French into English.
Initially, it meant 'to remove or alter natural qualities' (in general use); over time it also acquired specialized scientific senses such as 'to disrupt protein structure' and the legal/industrial sense 'to render alcohol undrinkable'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to remove or change the natural qualities or character of something; to alter its nature.
Industrial processes can denature the original material, changing its appearance and texture.
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Verb 2
(Biochemistry) To disrupt the natural structure of a protein or nucleic acid so that it loses its biological properties (for example, by heat, pH change, or chemicals).
High heat can denature proteins, causing them to lose their function in the cell.
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Verb 3
to make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by adding a substance (a denaturant), typically for legal or industrial reasons.
The government requires factories to denature industrial ethanol so it cannot be consumed as a beverage.
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Last updated: 2025/09/21 03:48