Main Entry:

¹an·ti·sep·tic

Pronunciation:

\ˌan-tə-ˈsep-tik\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

anti- + Greek sēptikos putrefying, septic

Date:

1751

1 a: opposing sepsis, putrefaction, or decay ; especially : preventing or arresting the growth of microorganisms (as on living tissue) b: acting or protecting like an antiseptic2: relating to or characterized by the use of antiseptics3 a: scrupulously clean : aseptic b: extremely neat or orderly ; especially : neat to the point of being bare or uninteresting c: free from what is held to be contaminating4 a: coldly impersonal <an antiseptic greeting> b: of, relating to, or being warfare conducted with cold precision from a safe distance with few or no casualties on one's side <antiseptic bombings>

— an·ti·sep·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb