To destroy the biologic activity or the effects of an agent or substance, as the activity of complement is destroyed when serum is heated.
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a) to destroy certain biological activities of <\inactivate the complement of normal serum by heat>
b) to cause (as an infective agent) to lose disease-producing capacity <\inactivate bacteria>
in·ac·ti·va·tion (.)in-.ak-tə-'vā-shən n
in·ac·ti·va·tor -.vāt-ər n
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in·ac·ti·vate (in-akґtĭ-vāt) to render inactive; to destroy the activity of.Medical dictionary. 2011.