sublimate

[ verb suhb-luh-meyt; noun adjective suhb-luh-mit, -meyt ]

verb (used with object)

, sub·li·mat·ed, sub·li·mat·ing.

1. Psychology. to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.
2. Chemistry.
   1. to sublime (a solid substance); extract by this process.
   2. to refine or purify (a substance).
3. to make nobler or purer:

   To read about great men sublimates ambition.

verb (used without object)

, sub·li·mat·ed, sub·li·mat·ing.

1. to become sublimated; undergo sublimation.

noun

1. Chemistry. the crystals, deposit, or material obtained when a substance is sublimated.

adjective

1. purified or exalted; sublimated.

sublimate

/ ˈsʌbləməbəl; ˈsʌblɪˌmeɪt /

verb

1. psychol to direct the energy of (a primitive impulse, esp a sexual one) into activities that are considered to be socially more acceptable
2. tr to make purer; refine

noun

1. chem the material obtained when a substance is sublimed

adjective

1. exalted or purified

Derived Forms

• sublimable, adjective

Other Words From

• sub·li·ma·ble [suhb, -l, uh, -m, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• subli·ma·ble·ness noun
• subli·mation noun
• de·subli·mate verb (used with object) desublimated desublimating
• re·subli·mate verb (used with object) resublimated resublimating
• super·subli·mated adjective
• un·subli·mated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sublimate¹

1425–75; late Middle English: exalted, sublimated < Latin sublīmātus (past participle of sublīmāre to elevate), equivalent to sublīm ( is ) sublime + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sublimate¹

C16: from Latin sublīmāre to elevate, from sublīmis lofty; see sublime

Example Sentences

In Wignot’s dreamily eloquent film, she presents us with a portrait of a man who seemingly sublimated his entire being into the creation of his art, documenting Ailey’s magnificent career with a wealth of archival footage and interviews.

From Washington Blade

Like a pet particularly prone to shedding, Swift-Tuttle leaves behind tiny bits of itself as it ambles along through the solar system, particularly when it’s near our star, and its solid, icy surface heats up, sublimating into a gas.

From Popular-Science

It’s one of only five moons in the solar system known to be geologically active, as evidenced by its active geysers that spew sublimated nitrogen gas.

From MIT Technology Review

Still, dry ice sublimates, or turns directly into carbon dioxide gas.

From Science News

In fact, I think it’s quite not, but I’m probably doing a whole lot of sublimating without knowing it.

From Freakonomics

It dissolves mercury, and with it forms corrosive sublimate.

From Project Gutenberg

I compounded this philter of corrosive sublimate and herbs that have an effect upon the skin.

From Project Gutenberg

Mademoiselle Huet saw that the box contained sublimate of mercury in powder and in paste.

From Project Gutenberg

Corrosive sublimate, saturated aqueous solution, for five minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

Of these, Lang's corrosive sublimate solution is decidedly the best all-round "fixative."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• repress