Oxidize

Alternative forms

• oxidise (UK)

Origin

oxide + -ize

Full definition of oxidize

Verb

1. (chemistry, transitive) To combine with oxygen or otherwise make an oxide.
• 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:.... The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.
2. (chemistry) To increase the valence (or the positive charge) of an element by removing electrons.
3. To coat something with an oxide.
4. (intransitive) To become oxidized.

Related terms

• oxidizable
• oxidization