'inactivate' definitions:

Definition of 'inactivate'

verb

Release from military service or remove from the active list of military service [syn: demobilize, inactivate, demobilise] [ant: call up, mobilise, mobilize, rally]

verb

Make inactive; "they deactivated the file" [syn: inactivate, deactivate] [ant: activate]

From: GCIDE

inactivate \inactivate\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. inactivated; p. pr. & vb. n. inactivating.] to make inactive; as, boiling will inactivate most enzymes; acetylation of the antibiotic inactivated it.
Syn: deactivate. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
Note: To inactivate an enzyme or chemical usually renders it permanently inactive; to inactivate a machine (as by turning a switch) may be reversible, and for machines and devices, the term deactivate is usually used. The distinction is worth preserving. [PJC]