Inside I was surprised by the lack of hospital smell although there was another odor or maybe the absence of an odor. The air was Antiseptic, sterile. as if there was no atmosphere at all or I’d caught a cold suddenly and couldn’t taste or smell.

Question

Explain the meaning of sterile in the excerpt and tell which word provides the clearest context, clue for the word

Answer 1

In the excerpt, "sterile" refers to an environment that is free from bacteria or other living microorganisms, suggesting a clean, sanitized space like that found in a hospital. The word implies not just cleanliness but also an absence of life or organic smells typically associated with a more natural environment.

The word that provides the clearest contextual clue for "sterile" in this excerpt is "Antiseptic." This word evokes a strong association with cleanliness and the medical setting, indicating a lack of unwanted odors and reinforcing the idea of the environment being devoid of organic scents.