oxidize

1. (chemistry, transitive) To combine with oxygen or otherwise make an oxide.Examples: "Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom."transitive

2. (chemistry) To increase the valence (or the positive charge) of an element by removing electrons.

3. (intransitive) To become oxidized.intransitive