sterile
gb/stˈɛɹəl/ us/stˈɛɹəl/
B2
English
steril, meddő, személytelen
B2
1
steril
B1
Usage pattern:
sterile [object/place]
The nurse opened a sterile package of surgical instruments.
A nővér kibontott egy steril csomagolású sebészeti műszerkészletet.
Use a sterile needle every time to reduce the risk of infection.
A fertőzés kockázatának csökkentése érdekében mindig steril tűt használjon.
The samples must be collected in sterile containers.
Learner examples
The doctor wore sterile gloves.
Az orvos steril kesztyűt viselt.
Please keep the bandage sterile.
Kérlek, ügyelj rá, hogy a kötés steril maradjon.
Common mistake:
Do not use sterile for ordinary cleanliness; it usually means free from microorganisms, not just tidy or washed.
Meaning
free from germs
Collocations
sterile equipment
|sterile gloves
|sterile needle
|sterile dressing
|sterile instruments
|sterile container
|sterile water
|sterile environment
|keep something sterile
|remain sterile
Synonyms
germ-free (more informal and easier to understand)
|
aseptic (more technical, especially in medicine and microbiology)
|
disinfected (cleaned to remove many germs, but not always completely sterile)
Antonyms
contaminated (made unclean or unsafe by germs or harmful substances)
|
infected (containing disease-causing organisms)
Themes
medicine
|health
|science
|cleaning
Definition
very clean and free from germs, especially for medical use
completely clean and free from living microorganisms, especially bacteria, as required for medical or laboratory use.
C1
2
meddő
B2
Usage pattern:
sterile [person/animal/plant]
Some hybrid animals are sterile and cannot reproduce.
Néhány hibrid állat meddő, és nem tud szaporodni.
The treatment left him sterile.
A kezelés meddővé tette őt.
The company developed sterile plants that cannot spread beyond the farm.
Learner examples
The animal is sterile and cannot have young.
Az állat meddő, és nem lehetnek utódai.
Some seeds are sterile.
Néhány mag meddő.
Common mistake:
When speaking about people, sterile can sound clinical or insensitive; infertile or unable to have children is often gentler.
Meaning
unable to reproduce
Collocations
sterile male
|sterile female
|sterile animal
|sterile plant
|made sterile
|rendered sterile
|sterile seeds
|sterile offspring
|genetically sterile
Synonyms
infertile (more common and often more sensitive for people)
|
barren (older or more literary; can be offensive when used of people)
|
unfruitful (mainly used for plants or figurative contexts)
Antonyms
fertile (able to produce children, young, seeds, or crops)
|
reproductive (able or involved in producing offspring)
Themes
biology
|medicine
|reproduction
|animals
|plants
Definition
not able to have babies or produce offspring
unable to produce children, young animals, seeds, or other offspring.
C1
3
személytelen
B2
Usage pattern:
sterile [place/design/atmosphere]
The apartment was expensive but felt sterile and unlived-in.
A lakás drága volt, de személytelennek és lakatlannak hatott.
They wanted the lobby to look modern without becoming sterile.
Azt akarták, hogy az előcsarnok modern legyen, de ne váljon személytelenné.
The white walls and harsh lighting gave the classroom a sterile atmosphere.
Learner examples
The office looks sterile and cold.
Az iroda személytelennek és hidegnek tűnik.
The hotel room felt sterile.
A szállodai szoba személytelennek hatott.
Common mistake:
A sterile room can mean either germ-free or cold and impersonal; context shows which meaning is intended.
Meaning
cold and impersonal
Collocations
sterile room
|sterile office
|sterile environment
|sterile atmosphere
|sterile design
|sterile interior
|sterile space
|feel sterile
|look sterile
Synonyms
clinical (suggests a cold hospital-like feeling)
|
impersonal (emphasizes lack of personal warmth)
|
soulless (stronger and more emotional criticism)
Antonyms
warm (pleasant, welcoming, and emotionally comfortable)
|
homely (British English for comfortable and home-like)
|
inviting (attractive and welcoming)
Themes
description
|design
|places
|emotions
Definition
too plain, cold, or impersonal
lacking warmth, comfort, personality, or human feeling.
C1
FORMAL
4
meddő
B2
Usage pattern:
sterile [debate/discussion/argument/exercise]
The meeting turned into a sterile debate about who was to blame.
Az értekezlet meddő vitává fajult arról, hogy ki a hibás.
She was tired of sterile arguments that never led to action.
Elege volt a meddő vitákból, amelyek sosem vezettek tettekhez.
The report criticized the policy review as a sterile exercise.
Learner examples
The discussion was sterile and solved nothing.
A megbeszélés meddő volt, és semmit sem oldott meg.
We need a useful plan, not a sterile debate.
Hasznos tervre van szükségünk, nem meddő vitára.
Common mistake:
This figurative meaning is usually negative and often used with words like debate, discussion, or exercise.
Meaning
unproductive or pointless
Collocations
sterile debate
|sterile discussion
|sterile argument
|sterile exercise
|sterile conversation
|sterile approach
|sterile analysis
|sterile speculation
Synonyms
fruitless (emphasizes failure to achieve a result)
|
unproductive (more direct and common in everyday language)
|
pointless (stronger and less formal; suggests no value at all)
Antonyms
productive (producing useful results)
|
fruitful (producing good results or useful ideas)
|
constructive (helpful and aimed at improvement)
Themes
communication
|work
|ideas
|politics
Definition
not useful because it produces no good result or new idea
not producing useful results, new ideas, or meaningful change.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sterile
IPA
GB/stˈɛɹəl/
US/stˈɛɹəl/
Syllables & stress
sterile (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sterile)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: sterile
Expressions
sterile cockpit
1/stˈɛɹəl kˈɑkpˌɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
no unnecessary cockpit talk
a flight-safety rule that pilots must focus only on important flight tasks
Examples
- The crew maintained a sterile cockpit during takeoff and landing.
- Nonessential conversation is prohibited under the sterile cockpit rule.
- The investigation found that the pilots had failed to observe sterile cockpit procedures.
Learner examples
- During landing, the pilots kept a sterile cockpit.
- A sterile cockpit helps pilots avoid distractions.
sterile field
1/stˈɛɹəl fˈild/
fixed phrase
technical
germ-free work area
a clean area in surgery or lab work that must stay free from germs
Examples
- The nurse prepared a sterile field before the procedure began.
- Do not reach over the sterile field unless you are wearing sterile gloves.
- The instrument was removed because it had fallen outside the sterile field.
Learner examples
- The doctor worked inside the sterile field.
- A dirty object can break the sterile field.
sterile insect technique
1/stˈɛɹəl ˈɪnsˌɛkt tɛknˈik/
fixed phrase
technical
pest control with sterile insects
a way to control pests by releasing insects that cannot reproduce
Examples
- The sterile insect technique has been used to control fruit fly populations.
- Scientists released sterile male mosquitoes as part of a sterile insect technique program.
- The method reduces pests without relying only on insecticides.
Learner examples
- The sterile insect technique can reduce pests.
- Sterile male insects cannot produce young.
sterile neutrino
1/stˈɛɹəl nutɹˈinoʊ/
fixed phrase
technical
hypothetical weakly interacting particle
a possible kind of tiny particle that is very hard to detect
Examples
- Some physicists have proposed sterile neutrinos as a possible component of dark matter.
- The experiment found no clear evidence for a sterile neutrino.
- A sterile neutrino would interact even less than ordinary neutrinos.
sterile processing
1/stˈɛɹəl pɹˈɑsɛsɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
sterilizing medical equipment
the hospital work of cleaning and sterilizing instruments
Examples
- The instruments were sent to sterile processing after the operation.
- She works as a sterile processing technician at a large hospital.
- A delay in sterile processing can slow down the surgical schedule.
Learner examples
- Sterile processing prepares tools for surgery.
- He works in sterile processing.
sterile technique
1/stˈɛɹəl tɛknˈik/
fixed phrase
technical
methods preventing contamination
special ways of working that keep germs away during medical or lab work
Examples
- All staff must follow sterile technique when inserting a central line.
- The students practiced sterile technique before entering the operating room.
- Poor sterile technique can lead to serious infections.
Learner examples
- The nurse used sterile technique.
- Sterile technique helps prevent infection.