Main Entry: de·na·ture

Pronunciation: \(ˌ)dē-ˈnā-chər\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): de·na·tured; de·na·tur·ing \-ˈnā-ch(ə-)riŋ\

Date: 1685

transitive verb 1 : dehumanize
2 : to deprive of natural qualities : change the nature of: as a : to make (alcohol) unfit for drinking (as by adding an obnoxious substance) without impairing usefulness for other purposes b : to modify the molecular structure of (as a protein or DNA) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so as to destroy or diminish some of the original properties and especially the specific biological activity intransitive verb : to become denatured

— de·na·tur·ant \(ˌ)dē-ˈnā-chər-ənt\ noun

— de·na·tur·ation \(ˌ)dē-ˌnā-chə-ˈrā-shən\ noun