denature verb. [di:'neɪtʃǝ] L17.
[French dénaturer, Old French des-, from des-, dé- DE- 3 + as NATURE noun.]
1. verb trans. Make unnatural. L17.
■ R. G. Collingwood Artistic motives are genuinely present, but denatured by subordination to a non-artistic end.

2. verb trans. Change the nature or properties of; esp. make (alcohol etc.) unfit for consumption. L19.

3. spec. Biochemistry.
a. verb trans. Cause denaturation (see below) of (a macromolecule), e.g. by heat or acid. E20.
b. verb intrans. Of a macromolecule: undergo denaturation. M20.

■ denaturant noun a substance added to alcohol etc. as a denaturing agent E20.

■ denatu'ration noun the action of denaturing; spec. (Biochemistry) alteration of the properties of a macromolecule or macromolecular aggregate by disruption of its conformation: L19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲