From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Oxidize \Ox"i*dize\ ([o^]ks"[i^]*d[imac]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
{Oxidized} ([o^]ks"[i^]*d[imac]zd); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Oxidizing}.] (Chem.)
To combine with oxygen, or subject to the action of oxygen,
or of an oxidizing agent. Specifically:
(a) To combine with oxygen or with more oxygen; to add oxygen
to; as, to oxidize nitrous acid so as to form nitric
acid.
(b) To remove hydrogen from (anything), as by the action of
oxygen; as, to oxidize alcohol so as to form aldehyde.
(c) To subject to the action of oxygen or of an oxidizing
agent, so as to bring to a higher grade, as an -ous
compound to an -ic compound; as, to oxidize mercurous
chloride to mercuric chloride.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In certain cases to oxidize is identical with to
acidify; for, in nearly all cases, the more oxygen a
substance contains the more nearly does it approximate
to acid qualities; thus, by oxidation many elements, as
sulphur, nitrogen, carbon, chromium, manganese, etc.,
pass into compounds which are acid anhydrides, and thus
practically in the acid state.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
oxidize
v 1: enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted
into an oxide; "This metal oxidizes easily" [syn:
{oxidise}, {oxidize}, {oxidate}]
2: add oxygen to or combine with oxygen [syn: {oxidize},
{oxidise}, {oxidate}] [ant: {deoxidise}, {deoxidize},
{reduce}]
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