autoclave

noun

au·to·clave | \ ˈȯ-tō-ˌklāv

Definition of autoclave

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an apparatus in which special conditions (such as high or low pressure or temperature) can be established for a variety of applications especially : an apparatus (as for sterilizing) using steam under high pressure

autoclave

verb

autoclaved; autoclaving

Definition of autoclave (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to treat in an autoclave

Examples of autoclave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Certified tattoo and piercing parlors have an autoclave machine, which uses high temperature and steam to sterilize the gun. — Elizabeth Denton, Seventeen, "9 Things You Should Know Before Getting Your First Body Piercing," 12 July 2018 To fix the plant's troubles, Pfizer decided to replace production lines and other technology, particularly huge equipment-sterilizing machines called autoclaves that can take two years to build, install and test. — Linda A. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "The other opioid crisis: Hospitals grapple with prolonged injected opioid shortage," 28 June 2018 To fix the plant’s troubles, Pfizer decided to replace production lines and other technology, particularly huge equipment-sterilizing machines called autoclaves that can take two years to build, install and test. — Washington Post, "US hospitals grapple with prolonged injected opioid shortage," 27 June 2018 No microscopes or autoclaves, just computers arranged in two long rows. — Elyse Butler, Smithsonian, "Hawaii’s Must-See Lava Flows Are Home to New, Startling Ecosystems," 29 Apr. 2017 No microscopes or autoclaves, just computers arranged in two long rows. — Elyse Butler, Smithsonian, "Hawaii’s Must-See Lava Flows Are Home to New, Startling Ecosystems," 29 Apr. 2017 The composite wing is not produced the way Boeing manufactures the wings of the 787 Dreamliner — by baking the material to hardness in a high-pressure oven, known as an autoclave. — Dominic Gates, The Seattle Times, "Russia’s challenger to 737 and A320 makes first brief flight," 30 May 2017 These huge cylindrical parts, spun out of carbon tape elsewhere in the factory, are baked to hardness inside a giant autoclave, a pressure oven 98 feet long and 29 feet in diameter, which Kawasaki designed and built itself. — Dominic Gates, The Seattle Times, "Boeing’s key suppliers in Japan want an upgrade," 13 May 2017 According to a Boeing spokesman who attended the Paris presentation, Delaney said Boeing is considering all options for fabricating the composites, including various new out-of-autoclave and resin infusion methods. — Dominic Gates, The Seattle Times, "Paris Air Show: Boeing exec gives some detail on possible ‘797’ design," 20 June 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

That material -- autoclaved aerated concrete, better known as AAC block -- is a porous block that's lightweight and workable, but also has insulating qualities. — Sarah Bonnette, NOLA.com, "Modern farmhouse blends cutting-edge design with rural charm on La. blueberry farm," 30 Aug. 2017 And make sure the therapist uses either disposable plastic tools or metal ones that have been autoclaved between each use. — Karyn Repinski, Harper's BAZAAR, "Are Colonics Back?," 23 Feb. 2016 Can the seal on Maddy’s autoclaved world withstand the pressure of such swelling adolescent hormones — not to mention Yoon’s plot requirements? — Michael O'sullivan, The Denver Post, "“Everything, Everything”: A whole lot of nothing remotely plausible," 19 May 2017 Can the seal on Maddy’s autoclaved world withstand the pressure of such swelling adolescent hormones, not to mention Yoon’s plot requirements? — Michael O’sullivan, star-telegram.com, "‘Everything, Everything’ leaves something to be desired," 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autoclave.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.