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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

inactivate \inactivate\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. {inactivated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {inactivating}.]
to make inactive; as, boiling will inactivate most enzymes;
acetylation of the antibiotic inactivated it.

Syn: deactivate.
[WordNet 1.5 PJC]

Note: To inactivate an enzyme or chemical usually renders it
permanently inactive; to inactivate a machine (as by
turning a switch) may be reversible, and for machines
and devices, the term {deactivate} is usually used. The
distinction is worth preserving.
[PJC]