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rarefaction

[rair-uh-fak-shuh n]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rarefaction ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of rarefying.
the state of being rarefied.

RELATED WORDS

distillation, clarification, void, gap, regeneration, purgation, absolution, atonement, forgiveness, grace, rebirth, washing, redemption, refinement, ablution, purge, catharsis, baptism, salvation, bathing

Nearby words

  1. rare gas,
  2. rare-earth element,
  3. rare-earth metals,
  4. rarebit,
  5. raree show,
  6. rarefactive,
  7. rarefied,
  8. rarefy,
  9. rarely,
  10. rarely ever

Origin of rarefaction

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin rārēfactiōn- (stem of rārēfactiō), equivalent to Latin rārēfact(us) (past participle of rārēfacere; see rarefy) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsrar·e·fac·tion·al, adjectiverar·e·fac·tive [rair-uh-fak-tiv] /ˌrɛər əˈfæk tɪv/, adjective
Can be confuseddiffraction diffusion reflection rarefaction refraction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rarefaction

British Dictionary definitions for rarefaction

rarefaction

rarefication (ˌrɛərɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)

noun

the act or process of making less dense or the state of being less dense
Derived Formsrarefactional, rareficational or rarefactive, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for rarefaction

rarefaction

n.

c.1600, from Middle French raréfaction or directly from Medieval Latin rarefactionem (nominative rarefactio), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin rarefacere (see rarefy). Used chiefly in reference to gasses.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for rarefaction

rarefaction

[râr′ə-făk′shən]

n.

A decrease in density and pressure in a medium, such as air, caused by the passage of a sound wave.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for rarefaction

rarefaction

[râr′ə-făk′shən]

A decrease in density and pressure in a medium, such as air, especially when caused by the passage of a wave, such as a sound wave.
The region in which this occurs.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.