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 verb1: dehumanize2: 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