chlorinate

[ klawr-uh-neyt, klohr- ]

verb (used with object)

, chlo·ri·nat·ed, chlo·ri·nat·ing.

1. Chemistry.
   1. to combine or treat with chlorine.
   2. to introduce chlorine atoms into an organic compound by an addition or substitution reaction.
2. to disinfect (water) by means of chlorine.
3. Metallurgy. to treat (a gold ore) with chlorine gas in order that the gold may be removed as a soluble chloride.

chlorinate

/ ˈklɔːrɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to combine or treat (a substance) with chlorine
2. to disinfect (water) with chlorine

chlorinate

/ klôr′ə-nāt′ /

1. To add chlorine or one of its compounds to a substance. Water and sewage are chlorinated to be disinfected, and paper pulp is chlorinated to be bleached.

Derived Forms

• ˌchlorinˈation, noun
• ˈchlorinˌator, noun

Other Words From

• chlori·nation noun
• chlori·nator noun
• hyper·chlori·nation noun
• postchlo·ri·nation adjective
• un·chlori·nated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chlorinate¹

First recorded in 1855–60; chlorine + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

DB, a slacker pool cleaner with eyes the same cerulean shade as the chlorinated body of water he tends to with an almost religious ecstasy.

From Los Angeles Times

It was the end-of-school pool party—at Max’s pool, of course—and Max felt that glow that comes from spending a full day in sunshine and chlorinated water.

From Literature

POPs include chlorinated hydrocarbons and flame retardants, and can accumulate in animals' fat stores as the contaminants move up the food chain though a process called biomagnification.

From Science Daily

Park officials are collecting more sampling to figure out the source of the bacteria and are also chlorinating water in the area again.

From Seattle Times

The Feb. 6 burn sparked worries that it could have formed dioxins, a known carcinogen created from burning chlorinated carbon materials.

From Seattle Times