oxidize

(äksi dīz′)

transitive verb oxidized, oxidizing

  1. to unite with oxygen, as in burning or rusting
  2. to increase the positive valence or decrease the negative valence of (an element or ion)
  3. to remove electrons from (an atom or ion)

Origin: oxide + -ize

intransitive verb

to become oxidized

Related Forms:

See oxidize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb ox·i·dized, ox·i·diz·ing, ox·i·diz·es
verb, transitive
  1. To combine with oxygen; make into an oxide.
  2. To increase the positive charge or valence of (an element) by removing electrons.
  3. To coat with oxide.
verb, intransitive
To become oxidized.

Related Forms:

  • oxˈi·dizˌa·ble adjective
  • oxˌi·di·zaˈtion (-dĭ-zāˈshən) noun

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