1 to make sb/sth completely clean and free from bacteria 杀菌；消毒

2 (usually passive 通常用于被动语态) to perform an operation on a person or an animal so that he/she/it cannot have babies （通过手术）使失去生殖能力，使绝育 ➔sterilization(also -isation) /ˌsterəlaɪˈzeɪʃn; US -ləˈz- ||; ˌstɛrələˈzeʃən/ noun [U]