radiation

[ rey-dee-ey-shuhn ]

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.

radiation

/ 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 calledradiation 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

radiation

/ 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.

radiation

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 .)

Derived Forms

• ˌradiˈational, adjective

Other Words From

• radi·ation·al adjective
• anti·radi·ation adjective
• inter·radi·ation noun
• nonra·di·ation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of radiation¹

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

Example Sentences

They shoot bright spurts of radiation into space, said David Berghmans.

From Science News For Students

Deinococcus, which can be found high up in our atmosphere, is known for its unusual ability to resist genetic damage from high doses of ultraviolet radiation and its tendency to form relatively large colonies.

From Popular-Science

DNA analysis suggested the radiation had fried their genetic material.

From Science News

For decades, that meant sterilizing males by exposing them to radiation and then releasing them into the wild.

From Science News

We’re also bathed in locally-sourced, artisanal electromagnetic radiation.

From Nautilus

He was very familiar with the reality of what could happen: Tokyo could be covered with a really high dosage of radiation.

From The Daily Beast

Everything serene, snow piling on trees, over lawns, on houses, before we realize that all the snow is poisoned with radiation.

From The Daily Beast

The 4M craft also includes a radiation dosimeter built by the Spanish company iC-Málaga.

From The Daily Beast

She said that whenever she came into the room, she had felt the radiation of a vast and unseen force.

From The Daily Beast

Hawking radiation for realistic black holes is a minuscule effect, and the bigger the black hole, the less radiation there is.

From The Daily Beast

The effect of the heated air which acquires its temperature by radiation from the earth's surface is to produce the winds.

From Project Gutenberg

If we can imagine the earth cut off from the solar radiation, the air would cease to move.

From Project Gutenberg

Aboard were not only oceanographers, but marine biologists experienced in radiation physics.

From Project Gutenberg

Short hard radiation emitted from the tab neutralized the claws, put them out of commission.

From Project Gutenberg

Radiation tabs protected the UN troops, but if a man lost his tab he was fair game for the claws, no matter what his uniform.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• radioactivity