Standard Lemma guide

denature

verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /diːˈneɪtjə(ɹ)/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /diːˈneɪt͡ʃə(ɹ)/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Northern-England: /diːˈnɛː.t͡ʃɐ/
  • Canada, General-American: /diˈneɪ̯.t͡ʃəɹ/
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /diːˈnæɪ̯.t͡ʃə/
  • rhymes with -eɪtjə(ɹ)
  • rhymes with -eɪtʃə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 N EY1 CH ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To take away a natural characteristic or inherent property of (a thing or a person).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: denaturalize

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To add something to (alcohol) that makes it unsuitable for consumption but leaves it suitable for most other purposes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • While you cannot drink denatured alcohol, you can still use it to remove sticker glue from most surfaces.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To alter its original form or state, especially of a protein, by heat, acidity etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: renature

4

verb

Meaning 4

Of double-stranded DNA, specifically to split into two single strands.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: renature

5

verb

Meaning 5

To combine fissile material with nonfissile material in order to prevent its use in an atomic weapon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive, usually

Qualifier: nuclear physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

make (alcohol) unfit for drinking without impairing usefulness for other purposes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

7

verb

Meaning 7

modify (as a native protein) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so that all of the original properties are removed or diminished

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

8

verb

Meaning 8

add nonfissionable material to (fissionable material) so as to make unsuitable for use in an atomic bomb

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French dénaturer. By surface analysis, de- + nature.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: desnaturar — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Catalan: desnaturalitzar — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Danish: denaturere — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Finnish: tehdä luonnottomaksi — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • French: dénaturer — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Polish: czynić mniej naturalnym — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Polish: uczynić mniej naturalnym — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Spanish: desnaturalizar — to take away a natural characteristic of
  • Czech: denaturovat — to add substance to make unsuitable for consumption
  • Finnish: denaturoida — to add substance to make unsuitable for consumption
  • German: vergällen — to add substance to make unsuitable for consumption
  • Polish: denaturować — to add substance to make unsuitable for consumption
  • Finnish: denaturoida — to subject a protein to conditions altering its original form
  • French: dénaturer — to subject a protein to conditions altering its original form
  • German: denaturieren — to subject a protein to conditions altering its original form
  • Persian: واسرشتن (vâsereštan) — to subject a protein to conditions altering its original form
  • Polish: denaturować — to subject a protein to conditions altering its original form
  • Spanish: desnaturalizar — to subject a protein to conditions altering its original form