oxidize

verb

ox·​i·​dize ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz 

oxidized; oxidizing

transitive verb

1

: to combine with oxygen

Other chemicals then oxidize the sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid, which along with the nitric acid increases the acidity of the dewdrop.

—R. Monastersky

Should the cork be allowed to dry out, it will shrink and allow air to seep in and oxidize the wine.

—Peter D. Meltzer

2

: to dehydrogenate especially by the action of oxygen

oxidize an alcohol to an aldehyde

3

: to change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence

What mix of products is formed is a function of the electrode potential used to oxidize the chloride ion.

—Chemical & Engineering News

: remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule)

oxidize metallic copper to ionic copper

intransitive verb

: to become oxidized

Fats can either oxidize (combine with oxygen) or hydrolyze (combine with water) to become rancid.

—Shirley Corriher

Silver does not oxidize, or rust, on exposure to air. In fact, compared with most other elements, it is not particularly reactive.

—C. Claiborne Ray

oxidizable

ˌäk-sə-ˈdī-zə-bəl 

adjective

Examples of oxidize in a Sentence

The paint oxidizes and discolors rapidly.

Recent Examples on the Web

The potatoes will oxidize, so be sure to shred right before use. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024

Tombstone is renowned for its high grade, oxidized, silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper mesothermal stringer lode veins, hydrothermal breccias and manto CRD orebodies that were mined in the late 1800's and early 1900's. —Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

Working primarily with steel — often twisted into evocative shapes and oxidized to achieve a distinctive deep orange palette — Serra was known for large-scale sculptures designed not only to be observed but to be explored, experienced and felt. —Oscar Holland, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024

Chocolates are also shelf stable for months, unlike the mushrooms themselves, which will oxidize if not stored properly. —Meghan McCarron, Bon Appétit, 24 Jan. 2024

After being oxidized in a kiln, the fish are polished and painted by hand using a translucent blue lacquer. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024

And fattier nuts, like macadamia or Brazil nuts, will oxidize quicker than leaner almonds. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024

This minimizes the risk of the fruit oxidizing or fermenting from sitting out for too long post-harvest. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 19 Feb. 2024

That's forming sulfuric acid and oxidizing the leftover iron, which would normally precipitate out of the water as rust. —Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing oxidize

• re-oxidize

Kids Definition

oxidize

verb

ox·​i·​dize ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz 

oxidized; oxidizing

1

: to combine with oxygen

2

: to remove hydrogen from especially by the action of oxygen

3

: to remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule)

4

: to become oxidized

oxidizer noun

Medical Definition

oxidize

verb

ox·​i·​dize

variants also British oxidise

ˈäk-sə-ˌdīz 

oxidized also British oxidised; oxidizing also British oxidising

transitive verb

1

: to combine with oxygen

2

: to dehydrogenate especially by the action of oxygen

3

: to change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence : remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule)

intransitive verb

: to become oxidized

oxidizable

-ˌdī-zə-bəl 

adjective