Dictionary
ster•i•li•za•tion
Pronunciation: (ster"u-lu-zā'shun), [key]—
n.
1. the act of sterilizing.
2. the condition of being sterilized.
3. the destruction of all living microorganisms, as pathogenic or saprophytic bacteria, vegetative forms, and spores.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.