chlorinate

American  

[klawr-uh-neyt, klohr-] / ˈklɔr əˌneɪt, ˈkloʊr- /

verb (used with object)

chlorinated, chlorinating

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.

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chlorinate British  

/ ˈklɔːrɪˌneɪt /

verb

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

2. to disinfect (water) with chlorine

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chlorinate Scientific  

/ 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.

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Other Word Forms

• chlorination noun
• chlorinator noun
• hyperchlorination noun
• postchlorination adjective
• unchlorinated adjective

Etymology

Origin of chlorinate

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

Example Sentences

Namphy and his government colleagues raced to chlorinate water arriving in the camps.

From The Guardian • Mar. 16, 2020

We chlorinate our water, so what’s the problem with using chlorine washes to make chicken safe?

From The Guardian • Sep. 10, 2019

Residents now chlorinate it, boil it or filter it through rugs.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2014

That move comes after actors in chicken outfits in one French protest troupe — dubbed the "chicken brigade" — tried to "chlorinate themselves" in a public pool.

From Chicago Tribune • Dec. 5, 2014

Worcester is also proposing to chlorinate the supply to maintain the purity of the water without extending the slow sand filtration plant.

From Chlorination of Water by Race, Joseph