Definition

The process of heating food or drinks to a certain temperature to kill harmful germs and prevent spoilage.

Example

Pasteurization is commonly used to make milk safe to drink.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of pasteurization?

Yeah, I think it's how they make milk safe to drink.

Exactly! It kills harmful bacteria without changing the taste.

That's pretty cool; I didn't know it was so important for food safety.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pasteurization → It is formed from "Pasteur" (the surname of Louis Pasteur, a French scientist known for his work in microbiology) and "-ization" (a suffix used to form nouns indicating a process). The word "pasteurization" refers to the process named after Louis Pasteur, which involves heating a liquid to kill harmful bacteria.

Memory Tip

Think of Louis Pasteur, the scientist who developed a method to make liquids safe by heating them — that's what pasteurization means.

Visually Confused Words