activated (redirected from Activated sludge)

ac·ti·vate  (kt-vt)

tr.v. ac·ti·vat·ed, ac·ti·vat·ing, ac·ti·vates

1. To set in motion; make active or more active.

2. To organize or create (a military unit, for example): activate the National Guard.

3. To treat (sewage) with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition.

4. Chemistry To accelerate a reaction in, as by heat.

5. Physics To make (a substance) radioactive.

6. Biology To convert (certain biological compounds) into biologically active derivatives.

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acti·vation n.

acti·vator n.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	activated - (of sewage) treated with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition treated - subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent; "the sludge of treated sewage can be used as fertilizer"; "treated timbers resist rot"; "treated fabrics resist wrinkling"
	2.	activated - (of e.g. a molecule) made reactive or more reactive excited natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" reactive - participating readily in reactions; "sodium is a reactive metal"; "free radicals are very reactive"
	3.	activated - rendered active; e.g. rendered radioactive or luminescent or photosensitive or conductive active - exerting influence or producing a change or effect; "an active ingredient"
	4.	activated - (military) set up and placed on active assignment; "a newly activated unit" armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" active - engaged in full-time work; "active duty"; "though past retirement age he is still active in his profession"