aerosolize

verb

aero·​sol·​ize ˈer-ə-ˌsä-ˌlīz How to pronounce aerosolize (audio)
-ˌsȯ-,
-sə-
aerosolized; aerosolizing; aerosolizes

transitive verb

: to disperse (something) as an aerosol : to convert or form into an aerosol
… high-energy laser pulses vaporize or aerosolize thin layers from the surface of a bulk sample …Nancy H. McGuire
… a battery-powered device that aerosolizes nicotine for inhalation but does not burn tobacco.Nancy A. Rigotti
Spraying cleaning products into a shower stall and then turning on hot water aerosolizes all those chemicals into everything from bathroom walls to fabric.Kathryn Matthews
aerosolized adjective
aerosolized medications
Infection in humans occurs after inhalation of aerosolized virus or direct contact with infected rodents or their excreta. The Journal of the American Medical Association

Examples of aerosolize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Rangan said that there aren’t data yet on whether pathogens in the Tijuana River can be aerosolized and affect residents but that the state health department is working with doctors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to do more research. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024 Smoke fumigation is not common practice in the United States, but is used frequently in China in place of pressure sprayers to aerosolize chemical treatments. Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2024 Because of the heavy viral load in milk and mammary glands, scientists suspect the virus is being spread to animals during the milking process, either through contact with infected equipment or with virus that becomes aerosolized during cleaning procedures. Julie Steenhuysen, Detroit Free Press, 23 May 2024 So there are things that grow deep in the soil or grow in the insides of plants and not things that would generally be aerosolized just by wind. More on Microbes How Microbes Help Clean Our Environment PM: How do these microbes get swept up in wildland fire smoke? Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for aerosolize 

Word History

Etymology

aerosol + -ize

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aerosolize was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near aerosolize

Cite this Entry

“Aerosolize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerosolize. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

aerosolize

transitive verb
aerosolized; aerosolizing
: to disperse (as a medicine, bactericide, or insecticide) as an aerosol
aerosolized pentamidine, which is sprayed directly into the lungsC. C. Mann
aerosolizer noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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