solarize

S1O1L1A1R1I1Z10E1

verb

To subject to solarization.

RareScrabble 17

Meanings

verbsolarize (third-person singular simple present solarizes, present participle solarizing, simple past and past participle solarized)

present singular third person solarizes · participle present solarizing · participle past solarized · past solarized · alternative solarise

  1. transitiveTo subject to solarization.
  2. datedtransitiveartsTo overexpose.
  3. datedintransitiveartsTo become overexposed.
  4. agricultureTo treat soil by covering with plastic and exposing to sunlight.

    The best time to solarize is when the sun is at its hottest, at mid summer.

    2005, Victoria Renoux, For the Love of Garlic: The Complete Guide to Garlic Cuisine, →ISBN, page 106
    2 more examples

    In areas with abundant sunlight, you can solarize the soil to disinfect it of fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and even weed seeds (see page 83).

    2000, Beth Hanson, Natural Disease Control, →ISBN, page 97

    Another even more effective method is to heavily douse the area with common grocery store vinegar (white or apple cider), and then cover it with plastic and solarize it for two weeks. If after two weeks you still have problems, apply more vinegar and solarize for the rest of the summer and try again next year. Remember to clean the land before you solarize.

    2016, Caleb Warnock, Stress-Free Vegetable Gardening: Thriving Gardens with Minimal Effort, →ISBN
  5. To convert to using solar energy.

    Other factors come into play when trying to solarize a home.

    2008, David Black, Living Off the Grid, →ISBN
    2 more examples

    In 2006, China passed the United States to become the world's third largest producer of the cells, after Germany and Japan -- the latter two being the two most solarized nations in the world.

    2008, Brian Hicks, Chris Nelder, Profit from the Peak, →ISBN

    The development of the technology of utility grid feedback and the study of its economics give rise to the hope of a solarized society with homes completely powered by photovoltaic solar electric arrays and electric cars run off the sun's energy.

    2012, B.B.P. Lim, Solar Energy Applications in the Tropics, →ISBN

Synonyms & antonyms

verbreverse some of the tones of (a negative or print) and introduce pronounced outlines of highlights, by exposing it briefly to light, then washing and redeveloping it

Similar
Broader

verbbecome overexposed

Similar
Broader

verboverexpose to sunlight

Similar
Broader

verbexpose to the rays of the sun or affect by exposure to the sun

Broader
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

solarize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/solarize

MLA

“solarize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/solarize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “solarize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/solarize.

Source: solarize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.