What is "lyophilize"

Freeze-dry \Freeze"-dry`\ (fr[=e]z"-dr[imac]`), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freeze-dried; p. pr. & vb. n. Freeze-drying.] to remove the moisture from (e.g. food) by first freezing and then subjecting to a high vacuum; -- used as a mild method for drying foods or chemicals while causing little decomposition, in contrast to heat-drying.

Note: This is a relatively gently drying process used to preserve food or sensitive biological materials. For biochemical materials, the term {lyophilize} is often used.

lyophilize \lyophilize\ v. t. to freeze-dry; -- a technique used to dry serum, tissue, unstable chemicals and other sensitive materials.

vb. To freeze-dry

v. to dry (blood, serum, tissue, etc.) by freezing in a high vacuum [syn: lyophilise]