329. Processes
See also 158. FERMENTATION .
- decoction
- 1. the process of boiling a substance in water to extract its essence.
- 2. the essence so produced.
- decortication
- the process of stripping off or removing the cortex or outer layer.
- deliquescence
- 1. the process of melting away or becoming moist from absorbing moisture from the air.
- 2. the liquid substance so formed. Cf. efflorescence. —deliquescent, adj.
- deracination
- the process of pulling up by the roots; eradication.
- despumation
- the process of removing scum or despumating; figuratively, clarification.
- desquamation
- the peeling off of the skin in scales.
- dimidiation
- the process of dividing in half; the state of being halved.
- edulcoration
- the process of sweetening or removing the acid or other impurities from a substance.
- effloresence
- 1. the process of drying out from evaporation.
- 2. the substance so formed. Cf. deliquescence . See also 414. WATER . — efflorescent, adj.
- elution
- removal of soluble matter from a substance to be refined by washing it in water.
- elutriation
- the process of elutriating, or purification by washing and straining.
- emuscation
- Rare. the process of removing moss.
- endosmosis
- (in osmosis) the more rapid spread of the less dense fluid through the membrane to join with the more dense. Cf. exosmosis. —endosmotic, adj.
- enucleation
- 1. the process of extraction, as removing the kernel from a nut.
- 2. a process of clarification. Cf. exacination. —enucleator, n.
- evanescence
- 1. the process of vanishing or fading away.
- 2. the condition of being transitory.
- exacination
- Rare. the process of removing a kernel, as from a nut. Cf. enucleation .
- excoriation
- the process of removing the skin or outer layer; flaying. See also 370. SKIN .
- exosmosis
- (in osmosis) the slower spread of the more dense fluid through the membrane to merge with the less dense. Cf. endosmosis. —exosmotic, adj.
- extirpation
- 1. the process of extirpating or destroying totally, as by tearing up the roots.
- 2. the condition of being totally destroyed.
- fulmination
- the explosion that occurs when certain chemicals are detonated.
- induration
- 1. the process of hardening or being hardened.
- 2. a hardened mass. — indurative, adj.
- inspissation
- the process of rendering a liquid thicker by evaporation. — inspissant, n. —inspissate, adj.
- instauration
- Obsolete, the restoration of something to its former condition; renewal or repair. — instaurator, n.
- labefaction, labefactation
- the process of coming apart, especially falling into ruin or decay.
- lactescence
- the process of becoming milky or the state of being milky. See also 272. MILK . — lactescent, adj.
- lapidification
- the process of turning to stone. Also called petrifaction, petrification .
- levigation
- 1. the process of grinding to a fine powder.
- 2. the process of mixing thoroughly or grinding to a smooth paste. — levigate, adj.
- levitation
- the process of rising or being raised in the air.
- lixiviation
- the process of leaching alkaline salts from ashes by pouring water on them. — lixivial, —lixivious, adj.
- lyophilization
- a process for preserving substances such as blood or serum by freeze-drying in a high vacuum.
- maceration
- the act or process of softening or separating by soaking or steeping.
- mordancy, mordacity
- the property of acting as a fixative in dyeing. — mordant, n. , adj.
- osmosis
- the process by which fluids pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution of lower concentration to equalize the concentration on both sides of the membrane. — osmotic, adj.
- perscrutation
- a thorough search; a diligent and detailed inquiry.
- petrification, petrifaction
- Iapidification.
- putrescence
- 1. the state or process of rotting or putrefying.
- 2. rotting or putrefying matter. — putrescent, adj.
- quassation
- Rare. the act or process of shaking or being shaken.
- recrudescence
- the process of renewal or rebirth. — recrudescent, adj.
- regenesis
- the act or process of renewal or rebirth.
- scintillation
- the process of giving of sparks or flashes, used of wit or humor and of the twinkling of the stars.
- scorification
- the process of reducing to slag, scoria, or dross, as in the refining of metals.
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