OXIDIZE means to combine chemically with oxygen, or more broadly, to undergo a reaction where electrons are lost, often resulting in rust, tarnish, or combustion.
Yes. OXIDIZE is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 24 points in Scrabble, 24 in Words With Friends and 24 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | O | X | I | D | I | Z | E | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 24 |
| Words With Friends | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 24 |
| Wordfeud | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 24 |
To OXIDIZE is to undergo or cause a chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons, most commonly through combination with oxygen. This fundamental chemical process drives phenomena from fire and rust to cellular respiration and metal corrosion. While everyday usage often equates oxidation with oxygen combination, chemists define it more broadly as any reaction involving electron loss. The visible effects - rust on iron, tarnish on silver, browning of apples - represent oxidation's transformative power. Types and examples of oxidation: Combustion: Rapid oxidation producing heat and light Corrosion: Slow oxidation of metals (rust, patina) Biological: Cellular respiration, metabolism Food chemistry: Browning, rancidity, spoilage
The word oxidize derives from "oxide" + "-ize" (verb-forming suffix). The etymology traces back through: "Oxide" (1790) from French oxide, coined by chemists Lavoisier and Guyton de Morveau From oxygène (oxygen) + -ide (compound suffix) "Oxygen" from Greek oxys (sharp, acid) + -genes (forming) The term "oxidize" appeared in 1802, during chemistry's revolutionary period. Initially, it meant only "to combine with oxygen," but the definition expanded in the 20th century with advancing understanding of electron transfer. The modern electrochemical definition (electron loss) was established by the 1920s.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of OXIDIZE.
Hooks: no front hooks; back OXIDIZED, OXIDIZER, OXIDIZES.
Words inside OXIDIZE: 20 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: IODIZEDOZEDOXIEOXIDEZEDOXIDDEXEXOXXIDIEDOE. See all words from OXIDIZE.