syneresis

American  

[si-ner-uh-sis] / sɪˈnɛr ə sɪs /

noun

1. synaeresis.

2. Physical Chemistry. the contraction of a gel accompanied by the exudation of liquid.

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syneresis British  

/ sɪˈnɪərɪsɪs /

noun

1. chem the process in which a gel contracts on standing and exudes liquid, as in the separation of whey in cheese-making

2. the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong

3. another word for synizesis

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Etymology

Origin of syneresis

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of synaeresis

Example Sentences

And all the time he had waited, he could feel himself growing older, could sense the syneresis, the slow solidifying of the life elements within him.

From Life Sentence by Francis, Dick