ionize

especially British, i·on·ise

[ahy-uh-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

ionized, ionizing 

1. to separate or change into ions.

2. to produce ions in.

verb (used without object)

ionized, ionizing 

1. to become changed into the form of ions, as by dissolving.

ionize

/ ˈaɪəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to change or become changed into ions

ionize

1. To give an atom or group of atoms a net electric charge by adding or removing one or more electrons.

2. To form ions in a substance. Lightning ionizes air, for example.

Other Word Forms

• ionizable adjective
• ionization noun
• ionizer noun
• nonionized adjective
• nonionizing adjective
• self-ionization noun
• unionized adjective
• ununionized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ionize¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; ion + -ize

Example Sentences

In the study, Parziale's team introduced krypton gas into a wind tunnel and used lasers to ionize it.

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Remember how ionizing radiation breaks apart the bonds in molecules?

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Dark stars have a smoking gun signature, an absorption feature at 1640 Angstrom, due to the large amounts of singly ionized helium in their atmospheres.

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Because of the strong magnetosphere of its host planet, the water on Enceladus is ionized and gets trapped within the Uranus magnetosphere.

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At these temperatures, the ionized hydrogen can strip oxygen even from solid ore.

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