emit
Americanverb (used with object)
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to send forth (liquid, light, heat, sound, particles, etc.); discharge.
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to give forth or release (a sound).
He emitted one shrill cry and then was silent.
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to utter or voice, as opinions.
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to issue, as an order or a decree.
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to issue formally for circulation, as paper money.
verb
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to give or send forth; discharge
the pipe emitted a stream of water
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to give voice to; utter
she emitted a shrill scream
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physics to give off (radiation or particles)
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to put (currency) into circulation
Usage
What does emit mean? 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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have emittedperfect
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has emittedperfect 3rd person singular
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is emittingprogressive 3rd person singular
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emittingparticiple
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emitssingular 3rd person
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have been emittingperfect progressive
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has been emittingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are emittingprogressive
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am emittingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had emittedperfect
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were emittingprogressive plural
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was emittingprogressive singular
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had been emittingperfect progressive
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emittedparticiple
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emittedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of emit
First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin ēmittere “to send forth,” from ē- e- 1 + mittere “to let go, send”
Explanation
To emit means to give off or let out, and it usually has a lot to do with gases, smells and noises. All of which could be potentially embarrassing, depending on where they're coming from. Lots of things can be emitted: body heat from your hands, high-pitched sound waves from a dog whistle, nasty odors from your mouth after a garlic-heavy lunch. Coming from the Latin emitter, it simply means to “send forth.” Since climate change is such a hot topic, you've probably heard people talking about how much CO₂ cars emit or how many greenhouse gases factories emit into the air.
Vocabulary lists containing emit
List 3
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Send a Message: Mit and Miss
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
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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.
"From the point of view of analytical chemistry, these Emit tests are unacceptable," says Dr. David Greenblatt, a clinical pharmacologist at the New England Medical Center.
From Time Magazine Archive
Said Deputy Sheriff Emit Kennedy: "He definitely had something planned."
From Time Magazine Archive
Its wondrous tints, a brilliant glow, Emit in darkest gloom, A sweeter fragrance 'round it clings, Than breath of eastern bloom.
From Debris Selections from Poems by Wagner, Madge Morris
Gold medal Canned fruits, meats and catsups in glass and tin Emit Greiner, 78 John street, New York city.
From New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 Report of the New York State Commission by Ellis, DeLancey M.
The Ghosts with eyes of flame and saucer Are now as obsolete as Chaucer; No Ghosts now rattle chains, nor blue light Emit, but "Spirit Lights"—a new light.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 62, January 1, 1872 by Various
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.
