emission

First recorded in 1600–10; from Middle French or directly from Latin ēmissiōn- (stem of ēmissiō ), equivalent to ēmiss(us), past participle of ēmittere “to send forth” (ē- “from, out of” + mit-, stem of mittere “to send” + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- noun suffix; see origin at emit, e-¹, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM emission

non·e·mis·sion, nounre·e·mis·sion, noun

Words nearby emission

emir, emirate, Emiscan, emissary, emissary vein, emission, emission nebula, emission spectrum, emissions trading, emissive, emissivity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

MORE ABOUT EMISSION

What does emission mean?

An emission is something that has been emitted—released or discharged. In general, emissions consist of things like gas, liquid, heat, sound, light, and radiation.

Emissions can come from natural sources or from machines. A specific example of an emission is the exhaust from cars (in the U.S., such emissions are regulated through emissions tests). This exhaust is just one form of carbon emissions—greenhouse gases from various sources that are known to contribute to global warming and climate change.

Emission can also refer to an instance or the process of emitting, as in This filter is designed to reduce the emission of light.

Example: Carbon dioxide emissions from volcanoes are much lower than those from cars and airplanes.

Where does emission come from?

The first records of the word emission come from the early 1600s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb ēmittere, from e-, meaning “out of,” and mittere, “to send.”

An emission is something sent out from something else. Such emissions are often by-products released during the course of other processes—such as smoke being emitted from a factory or heat being emitted from a machine. Emissions from cars and airplanes come from the burning of fuel by their engines. In physics and electronics, the word is used in a more specific way to refer to the amount of electrons being emitted from an object.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to emission?

emissive (adjective)
nonemission (noun)
reemission (verb)
emit (verb)

What are some synonyms for emission?

What are some words that share a root or word element with emission?

What are some words that often get used in discussing emission?

How is emission used in real life?

Emissions are usually discussed in technical or scientific contexts.

The drop in carbon emissions due to coronavirus lockdowns won’t last. But as we rebuild, we have a unique opportunity to make the structural changes required to hit net-zero targets, says Corinne Le Quéré https://t.co/zvZeA9hOL6 pic.twitter.com/g6CyogTezd

— New Scientist (@newscientist) July 6, 2020

BREAKING: Twenty-three states sue to stop Trump administration from revoking California's authority to set auto emission standards.

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 20, 2019

"I propose this evening to speak to you on a new kind of radiation or light emission from atoms and molecules."

– Venkata Raman at the University of Calcutta on 16 March 1928. He was awarded the #NobelPrize for the Raman effect. pic.twitter.com/87DxJ0EBva

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) March 16, 2020

Try using emission!

An emission can consist of which of the following things?

A. liquid
B. gas
C. sound
D. all of the above

How to use emission in a sentence

Three studies published this week examine some of the issues of negative emissions in detail.
CO₂ removal to halt warming soon would be a gargantuan undertaking|Scott K. Johnson|August 27, 2020|Ars Technica
Those data show that jumps in CO2 emissions happened at about the same time as strong earthquakes, and emissions dropped off when quakes were smaller and farther between.
Carbon dioxide from Earth’s mantle may trigger some Italian earthquakes|Maria Temming|August 26, 2020|Science News
Major oil and gas companies, particularly in Europe, have pledged to cut their emissions dramatically—leaving the future of their assets, some of them still un-drilled, in question.
The oil sands triggered a heated global debate on our energy needs. Now, they could be a sign of what’s to come|kdunn6|August 20, 2020|Fortune
Studies have shown the product to reduce methane emissions by about 20 percent in meat cattle, according to the New York Times.
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will It Succeed?|Dyllan Furness|August 16, 2020|Singularity Hub

The fee price would then drop as carbon emissions drop, he said.
Environment Report: One Way to Force Companies to Emit Less Carbon|MacKenzie Elmer|August 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The United States and China announced new greenhouse emission targets late Tuesday night.
The U.S.-China Climate Deal Is Mostly Hot Air|Tim Mak|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The joint-announcement should also put to bed long-term disagreements between Beijing and Washington over emission targets.
Obama and Xi Jinping Say They’ll Work Together to Save Environment|Ben Leung|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, researchers measured a decrease in X-ray emission last year: something new was blocking the light from reaching us.
The Supermassive Black Hole Smokescreen|Matthew R. Francis|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Climate change” itself is now a dirty emission rarely uttered from the mouths of Republican leaders.
Obama’s New Emissions Rules Will Yank the Climate Change Debate Back Into Reality|Sally Kohn|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not words, of course, but an ongoing emission of verbal fragments.
When An Adopted Child Won’t Attach|Tina Traster|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the other hand, if too thin the emission is comparatively easy, but lacks intensity and is termed "hollow."
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
The violin was of good reputation for its tone of fine quality, quantity and ease of emission.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
The emission of odors and acute sensibility to them is the only presumable agency at work in those instances.
Man And His Ancestor|Charles Morris
Thereupon his anxiety became extreme, and simultaneously he experienced his first seminal emission.
The Sexual Life of the Child|Albert Moll
On one occasion, however, he had a seminal emission during the night in association with a feeling of anxiety.
The Sexual Life of the Child|Albert Moll

British Dictionary definitions for emission

emission

/ (ɪˈmɪʃən) /

noun

the act of emitting or sending forth

energy, in the form of heat, light, radio waves, etc, emitted from a source

a substance, fluid, etc, that is emitted; discharge

a measure of the number of electrons emitted by a cathode or electron gunat 1000°C the emission is 3 mA See also secondary emission, thermionic emission

physiol any bodily discharge, esp an involuntary release of semen during sleep

an issue, as of currency

Derived forms of emission

emissive, adjective

Word Origin for emission

C17: from Latin ēmissiō, from ēmittere to send forth, emit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for emission

emission

[ ĭ-mĭsh′ən ]

A discharge of fluid from a living body, usually a seminal discharge.

emission

OTHER WORDS FOR emission

Origin of emission

OTHER WORDS FROM emission

Words nearby emission

MORE ABOUT EMISSION

What does emission mean?

Where does emission come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is emission used in real life?

Try using emission!

Words related to emission

How to use emission in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for emission

Derived forms of emission

Word Origin for emission

Medical definitions for emission