to fluoridize

7.8

To add fluoride to water or teeth to help prevent tooth decay

verb
/ˈflʊərɪˌdaɪz/

Specialized

: fluoridar

Many communities fluoridize their water supplies to combat tooth decay.

Examples

The dentist will fluoridize your teeth today.
They fluoridized the water supply last month.
Experts debate whether it is necessary to fluoridize all public drinking water.
The dentist recommended we fluoridize our children's teeth during routine check-ups.
Many communities fluoridize their water supplies to combat tooth decay.
The dentist recommended we fluoridize our children's teeth during routine check-ups.
Experts debate whether it is necessary to fluoridize all public drinking water.

Synonyms

to fluoridate

vsto fluoridize

Specialized

3 7.1

To put fluoride into water to help prevent tooth decay

adds fluoride to water or teeth to prevent dental decay

Surface Forms

fluoridize infinitive

fluoridise infinitive

fluoridized past

fluoridised past

fluoridized past participle

fluoridised past participle

fluoridizing present participle

fluoridising present participle

fluoridizes third person singular

fluoridises third person singular

Morphology

fluoridize = fluoride (transparent) = fluor + id + ize

The process of adding fluoride is clearly indicated by the suffix '-ize', which denotes the action of applying or converting.

Etymology

Fluoridize comes from the chemical fluoride, a substance that helps prevent tooth decay, and the ending -ize, which means 'to make or to use'. So, to fluoridize something is to 'add fluoride' to it, for example water or teeth, to help stop tooth decay.