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actinism

[ ak-tuh-niz-uhm ]

/ ˈæk təˌnɪz əm /

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See synonyms for actinism on Thesaurus.com

noun

the property of radiation by which chemical effects are produced.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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Origin of actinism

First recorded in 1835–45; actin- + -ism

Words nearby actinism

actinic ray, actinide, actinide series, actiniform, actinin, actinism, actinium, actinium series, actino-, actinobacillosis, actinobacillus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use actinism in a sentence

Actinism, ak′tin-izm, n. the chemical force of the sun's rays, as distinct from light and heat.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
An instrument for registering the intensity of the chemical influence (actinism) of the suns rays.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley
The third constituent of the sunbeam is actinism—its property being to produce chemical effects.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVI, July 1852, Vol. V|Various
As yet, the effects of actinism have been more studied in the inanimate than the organic creation.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVI, July 1852, Vol. V|Various

Experiments clearly prove that this change is to be attributed to actinism, and not to heat.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVI, July 1852, Vol. V|Various