regelation

American  

[ree-juh-ley-shuhn] / ˌri dʒəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

Physics.

1. a phenomenon in which the freezing point of water is lowered by the application of pressure; the melting and refreezing of ice, at constant temperature, caused by varying the pressure.

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regelation British  

/ ˌriːdʒɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the rejoining together of two pieces of ice as a result of melting under pressure at the interface between them and subsequent refreezing

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Etymology

Origin of regelation

First recorded in 1855–60; re- + gelation ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

regelation

It was moist and soft, in fact in a condition altogether favourable for the "regelation" of its granules.

From The Glaciers of the Alps Being a narrative of excursions and ascents, etc. by John Tyndall

I have already made the usual regelation experiment before you when I compressed broken ice in this mould.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by John Joly

These facts are the exact complements of those of "regelation;" for here, two moist surfaces of ice being brought into close contact, their liquid liberty is destroyed and the surfaces freeze together.

From The Glaciers of the Alps Being a narrative of excursions and ascents, etc. by John Tyndall

Then again, what I have described as 'intrusive layers of blue ice' was a remarkable feature; one could imagine that these layers represent surfaces which have been transformed by regelation under hot sun and wind.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Robert Falcon Scott

But a little further down the wound is healed again, and regelation has restored the smooth surface of the glacier.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by John Joly