radiation

American  

[rey-dee-ey-shuhn] / ˌreɪ diˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Physics.

   1. the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves.

   2. the complete process in which energy is emitted by one body, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and absorbed by another body.

   3. the energy transferred by these processes.

2. the act or process of radiating.

3. something that is radiated.

4. radial arrangement of parts.

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radiation British  

/ ˌreɪdɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. physics

   1. the emission or transfer of radiant energy as particles, electromagnetic waves, sound, etc

   2. the particles, etc, emitted, esp the particles and gamma rays emitted in nuclear decay

2. Also called: radiation therapy.  med treatment using a radioactive substance

3. anatomy a group of nerve fibres that diverge from their common source

4. See adaptive radiation

5. the act, state, or process of radiating or being radiated

6. surveying the fixing of points around a central plane table by using an alidade and measuring tape

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radiation Scientific  

/ rā′dē-ā′shən /

1. 1. Streams of photons, electrons, small nuclei, or other particles. Radiation is given off by a wide variety of processes, such as thermal activity, nuclear reactions (as in fission), and by radioactive decay.

   2. The emission or movement of such particles through space or a medium, such as air.

2. The use of such energy, especially x-rays, in medical diagnosis and treatment.

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radiation Cultural  

1. Energy sent out in the form of particles or waves. (See alpha radiation, beta radiation, blackbody, cosmic rays, electromagnetic radiation, fluorescence, gamma radiation, photon, and quanta.)

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Other Word Forms

• antiradiation adjective
• interradiation noun
• nonradiation noun
• radiational adjective

Etymology

Origin of radiation

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin radiātiōn-, stem of radiātiō “beam, gleam, shine”; equivalent to radiate + -ion

Example Sentences

On top of that, there is constant cosmic radiation and no breathable air.

From Science Daily

The energies of the electrons involved are also similar to those responsible for radiation damage.

From Science Daily

Aging or exposure to cancer radiation can disrupt this renewal process, slowing or stopping regeneration altogether.

From Science Daily

Pulsars emit powerful beams of electromagnetic radiation from their magnetic poles at intervals measured in milliseconds.

From Science Daily

The timing was especially telling: the new outflows appeared in the images while NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope was also detecting high-energy gamma rays, directly connecting the shock-powered radiation to those colliding streams.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• emission