evaporation

American  

[ih-vap-uh-rey-shuhn] / ɪˌvæp əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

evaporations plural

1. the act or process of evaporating.

2. the state of being evaporated.

3. Archaic. matter or the quantity of matter evaporated or passed off in vapor.

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evaporation Scientific  

/ ĭ-văp′ə-rā′shən /

1. The change of a liquid into a vapor at a temperature below the boiling point. Evaporation takes place at the surface of a liquid, where molecules with the highest kinetic energy are able to escape. When this happens, the average kinetic energy of the liquid is lowered, and its temperature decreases.

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evaporation Cultural  

1. The changing of a liquid into a gas, often under the influence of heat (as in the boiling of water). (See vaporization.)

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Usage

What does evaporation mean? Evaporation is the process of changing from a liquid or solid state into vapor (like fog, mist, or steam). Evaporation is a noun form of the verb evaporate. Both terms are typically used in the context of water turning into water vapor. Water evaporates when it changes into steam through boiling, but in scientific terms, evaporation typically refers to the change of a liquid into a vapor at a temperature below the boiling point, such as the evaporation of water from the surface of the ocean. In this way, evaporation is an important part of the water cycle. The verb evaporate can also be used in a figurative way meaning to disappear, and evaporation can be used in this figurative way as well. Example: The evaporation of the dew from the grass each morning happens more quickly in the sunny parts of the yard.

Discover More

The evaporation of water from the oceans is a major component in the hydrologic cycle.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonevaporation
  noun
• preevaporation
  noun
• evaporative
  adjective
• nonevaporative
  adjective
• unevaporative
  adjective
• evaporatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• evaporations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of evaporation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English evaporacioun, from Latin ēvapōrātiōn- (stem of ēvapōrātiō ); see evaporate, -ion

Compare meaning

How does evaporation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• transpiration vs. evaporation

Explanation

Evaporation takes place when liquid turns into gas. Ever noticed how water disappears from a glass if you leave it sitting on your counter? That's not thirsty gnomes living in your kitchen: it’s evaporation. Evaporation comes from the Latin evaporare, which means “disperse in vapor or steam.” Depending on the humidity level of the air around it, any liquid will release some of its molecules into the atmosphere around it. That’s evaporation. With time, the liquid can fully evaporate. That's why evaporation can apply to anything that disappears, like the evaporation of your money that leaves you with nothing but an empty wallet.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

evaporation evaporations

Many interesting facts are dispensed in passing: During the summer in Texas, Mr. Smil informs us, an 800-square-foot swimming pool will lose about 185 gallons of water a day to evaporation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

The researchers found that this repulsive effect can stop the final stage of Hawking evaporation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026

As cooler, drier air spreads into the central Pacific, evaporation decreases, atmospheric circulation weakens, and winds along the equator strengthen.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026

Land warms faster than the ocean as water can absorb more heat and cool through evaporation.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

The canal was a flop: some parts ran uphill, apparently because of incompetent engineering, and the rest lost nine-tenths of its water to evaporation and seepage.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

When it does, it will lead to one of the greatest evaporations of wealth in human history.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 4, 2022

In orbital flights, the astronauts burn liquid oxygen as fuel and breathe its evaporations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Oftentimes also, even in the sea are seen evaporations of fire, and such eruptions and breaking forth of springs, that the mouths of rivers are opened.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 07 by Kerr, Robert

But there are undoubtedly other complications besides the evaporations from the soil and the relative humidity of the air to be considered in making an enquiry into the causes of good and bad scent.

From A Cotswold Village by Gibbs, J. Arthur

Great are its gusts When it comes from the south; Great are its evaporations When it strikes on coasts.

From The Mabinogion Vol. 3 by Edwards, Owen Morgan, Sir

Related Words

• dispersal
• melting