aerosolize

[ air-uh-saw-lahyz, -so- ]

verb (used with object)

, aer·o·sol·ized, aer·o·sol·iz·ing.

1. to disperse or discharge as an aerosol:

   a liquid that is too thick to aerosolize;

   techniques that aerosolize the fuel prior to combustion.

2. Physiology, Pathology. to release (the droplets, or fine particles, within one’s respiratory system) into the air as part of the process of talking, breathing, whistling, coughing, sneezing, etc.:

   Even when you sing, you’re aerosolizing particles from your respiratory tract.

   With every cough and sneeze, the infected person profusely aerosolizes viral pathogens.

3. to contain or pack in aerosol form:

   Now I’ve heard everything—they’ve aerosolized coffee that I can just spray into my cream.

Other Words From

• aer·o·sol·i·za·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aerosolize¹

First recorded in 1940–45; aerosol + -ize

Example Sentences

Far more bacterial and fungal species populated the smoky petri dishes than the baseline dishes, indicating that the fire aerosolized some species that weren’t in the air before the fire, Kobziar says.

From Science News

Laboratory studies have found that infectious coronavirus can persist in the air for at least three hours when artificially aerosolized, though these results are hard to translate to real-world conditions.

From Science News

These activities aerosolize virus, creating airborne virus particles – also called droplet nuclei – that are so tiny they can float around in the air for three hours Advertisement .

From No Straight News

Just-published research indicates that surgical masks can also decrease the amount of aerosolized virus the people produce by breathing and talking.

From No Straight News

Common medical devices, like nebulizer machines for people with asthma and CPAP machines for those with sleep apnea, can aerosolize virus.

From No Straight News