emit

Emit means to release or discharge something, such as gas, liquid, heat, sound, light, or radiation.

The process of emitting is called emission. Emission can also refer to something that has been emitted. A specific example of an emission is the exhaust emitted from cars (in the U.S., such emissions are regulated through emissions tests). This exhaust is just one form of carbon emissions—greenhouse gases emitted from various sources that are known to contribute to global warming and climate change.

In things like TVs and light bulbs, the term LED stands for “light-emitting diode,” a semiconductor device that emits light when conducting current.

Emit usually implies that things are being released in a passive way, but some senses of the word are more active.

Emit sometimes specifically means to give off or make a sound, as in My cat emitted the worst sound when I accidentally stepped on his tail. It can also be used in a somewhat figurative way meaning to say or voice, as in She certainly emitted her opinion. 

Example: Collectively, volcanoes emit carbon dioxide at far lower levels than cars and airplanes.

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

To emit something is to send it out or give it off, often in a passive way. 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. When we say that someone emitted a sound, it can imply that it almost came out on its own.

In physics and electronics, the word emission is used in a more specific way to refer to the amount of electrons being emitted from an object.

What are some other forms related to emit?

• emission (noun)
• emissive (adjective)
• reemit (verb)

What are some synonyms for emit?

• discharge
• give off
• emanate

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

• remit
• remission
• mission

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

• carbon
• car
• exhaust
• gas
• liquid
• fluid
• sound
• light
• heat
• radiation
• pollution
• electron

Emit is usually used in technical or scientific contexts.

"But while the businesses had millions to pay out to top executives, they have chosen not to spend capital to properly close wells that are emitting methane and other gases into the atmosphere."https://t.co/IzQT3pgVn1

— Clean Water Action (@cleanh2oaction) July 15, 2020

Last year the world watched helplessly as Notre Dame cathedral burned. The fire started just below the cathedral’s roof which was covered in 460 tons of lead. Questions have remained about how much lead the fire emitted into the surrounding neighborhoods. https://t.co/Y0rFlQXrLH pic.twitter.com/18jRjU6cOa

— Earth Institute (@earthinstitute) July 15, 2020

Research Shows Graphene Can Refresh Electron-Emitting Photocathodes More Efficiently https://t.co/tcZqBd1mkD

— John Biggs (@johnbiggs) July 13, 2020

Which of the following things can be emitted?

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