1. to treat or disinfect with carbolic acid (phenol)
Usage: chiefly historical or medical; transitive verb

Examples

• The surgeon carbolized the instruments before the operation.
• In the 19th century, doctors would carbolize wounds to prevent infection.
• The hospital staff carbolized the surgical equipment using carbolic acid.
• Lister's method involved carbolizing the operating room to reduce sepsis.
• They carbolized the bandages to ensure sterility.