liquefaction

[lik-wuh-fak-shuh n]

See more synonyms for liquefaction on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act or process of liquefying or making liquid.
the state of being liquefied.

Origin of liquefaction

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin liquefactiōn- (stem of liquefactiō) a melting, equivalent to Latin liquefact(us) (past participle of liquefacere to melt, liquefy) + -iōn- -ion

Related formsliq·ue·fac·tive, adjective

Can be confusedevanescence evaporation liquefaction melting thawing transpiration vaporization

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for liquefaction

condensate, overthrow, adjournment, demise, suspension, termination, disbandment, synthesis, blend, amalgam, blending, rainfall, distillation, dew, precipitate, precipitation, liquefaction, crystallization, decease, ending

Examples from the Web for liquefaction

Contemporary Examples of liquefaction

Next up, in the Mother of All Disasters trifecta, another deadly piece of jargon: liquefaction.
Hurricane Sandy Will Be Dwarfed by an Earthquake
Winston Ross
November 5, 2012

Historical Examples of liquefaction

In fact, the liquefaction and saccharification should proceed simultaneously.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines
Andrew Ure
At eleven, I said Mass at the altar where I had witnessed the liquefaction.
Catholic World, Vol. XIII, April to September, 1871
Various
Evidence derived from Liquefaction of one or both of the Gases.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4
Various
The reagent that causes this liquefaction escapes my endeavors to detect it.
The Life of the Fly
J. Henri Fabre
After the liquefaction, the grubs try to make off, showing that the fare is not to their liking.
The Life of the Fly
J. Henri Fabre

Word Origin and History for liquefaction

late 15c., from French liquéfaction, from Late Latin liquefactionem (nominative liquefactio), noun of action from past participle stem of liquefacere "to make liquid, melt" (see liquefy).

liquefaction in Medicine

liquefaction

[lĭk′wə-făk′shən]

The process of liquefying.
The state of being liquefied.

liquefaction in Science

liquefaction

[lĭk′wə-făk′shən]

Chemistry The act or process of turning a gas into a liquid. Liquefaction is usually achieved by compression of vapors (provided the temperature of the gas is below the critical temperature), by refrigeration, or by adiabatic expansion.
Geology The process by which sediment that is very wet starts to behave like a liquid. Liquefaction occurs because of the increased pore pressure and reduced effective stress between solid particles generated by the presence of liquid. It is often caused by severe shaking, especially that associated with earthquakes.