noun
-
an act or instance of emanating
-
something that emanates or is produced; effusion
-
a gaseous product of radioactive decay, such as radon
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of emanation
1560–70; < Late Latin ēmānātiōn- (stem of ēmānātiō ), equivalent to ēmānāt ( us ) ( see emanate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Stinky smell coming from under the floor? Weird light from the garden shed at night? That's an emanation, something, often invisible, that is emitted by something. Emanation is very similar in meaning to emission, and the two words are often used interchangeably, though there is an important difference; there tends to be something slightly more other-worldy and inexplicable about an emanation, owing in part to the word's theological use in the Christian religion as a means of describing the Holy Spirit. An emission always has a solid base in reality or science, and an emanation may be just plain spooky.
Vocabulary lists containing emanation
1984
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Golden Compass
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The form of the danger is an emanation of energy. The danger is unleashed only if you substantially disturb this place physically. This place is best shunned and left uninhabited.”
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2024
“Chills and fever have been attributed for ages to ‘miasm,’ an emanation from the earth so subtle that the ablest chemist was not able to detect it.
From Scientific American • Nov. 6, 2021
Not all that much happens in this immensity, though sometimes a colorful gassy emanation floods the screen and something — a wrench, a body — floats into the great nothing.
From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2019
Look for a lilac emanation running from west to east that resembles a narrow beam or arc; some chasers say it often occurs several beats after the more-grandiose auroras subside.
From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2019
“That phases out laser emanation and spreads the beam into ordinary light.”
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
