granulation

American  

[gran-yuh-ley-shuhn] / ˌgræn jəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of granulating.

2. a granulated condition.

3. any of the grains of a granulated surface.

4. Pathology.

   1. the formation of granulation tissue, especially in healing.

   2. granulation tissue.

5. Astronomy. one of the small, short-lived features of the sun's surface that in the aggregate give it a mottled appearance when viewed with a telescope.

---

granulation British  

/ ˌɡrænjʊˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of granulating

2. a granulated texture or surface

3. a single bump or grain in such a surface

4. See granulation tissue

5. Also: granule.  astronomy any of numerous bright regions (approximate diameter 900 km) having a fine granular structure that can appear briefly on any part of the sun's surface

---

Etymology

Origin of granulation

First recorded in 1606–15; granule + -ation

Explanation

The process of forming tiny particles is granulation. It's granulation that results in fine specks of sugar that are perfect for sprinkling on your buttered toast with cinnamon. Breaking things down into small grains — or building larger grains from a powder — is what granulation is all about. It's a form of processing, whether it's salt or sugar, medicines in a pharmacy, or chemicals in a lab. There's also the granulation of sand on a beach, which happens over years as large stones are slowly broken down into smaller particles, or grains of sand.