Main Entry: de·na·ture

Pronunciation: \(ˈ)dē-ˈnā-chər\

Function: verb

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

transitive verb

: to deprive of natural qualities: 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