reactivate

verb

re·ac·ti·vate | \ (ˌ)rē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt

How to pronounce reactivate (audio)

\

reactivated; reactivating; reactivates

Definition of reactivate

1 transitive : to activate (something or someone) again … turning the dough (gently folding it over onto itself between the first and second rises) reactivates the yeast without pressing out as much air.— Erika Bruce : such as

a(1) : to restore (an organized group such as a military unit) to an active state (as from a state of disorganization or deactivation)

(2) : to restore (an individual) to active duty He was reactivated after 9/11 and sent to Afghanistan for a year.— Pam Kragen

(3) : to cause (something such as an industrial plant, society, program, or commission) to function again after a suspension of activity Started in 1987 and reactivated two years ago, the Leadership Shelby County program takes the participants through the process of developing and launching efforts to improve the community.— John Walker

b psychology : to cause (something such as a repressed complex) to reappear in consciousness or behavior Feelings of inferiority were reactivated by the experience.

c medical : to cause (a quiescent disease) to become active again tuberculosis that was reactivated by fatigue

2 intransitive : to become active again … a painful nerve and skin disorder that occurs when the immune system weakens in older people and the virus, which never entirely leaves the body, reactivates.— Alison L. Sprout

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Time Traveler for reactivate

The first known use of reactivate was in 1854

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More Definitions for reactivate

reactivate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of reactivate

: to cause (something) to start working or happening again : to activate (something) again

See the full definition for reactivate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reactivate

transitive verb

re·ac·ti·vate | \ (ˈ)rē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt

\

reactivated; reactivating

Medical Definition of reactivate

: to activate again : cause to be again active or more active: as

a : to cause (as a repressed complex) to reappear in consciousness or behavior persecution feelings reactivated by new social failures

b : to cause (a quiescent disease) to become active again in an individual a herpes infection reactivated by physical and emotional stresses

c : to restore complement to (an inactivated serum) by addition of fresh normal serum

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