denature

de·na·ture (d-nchr)

v.

1. To change the nature or natural qualities of.

2. To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially adding methyl alcohol to ethyl alcohol.

3. To alter the chemical structure of a protein, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.

---

de·natur·ation n.

---

denature

to deprive a substance of its natural qualities, e.g. by heating a protein to destroy its specific biological activity.