functionalizationn.
/ˌfʌŋ(k)ʃn̩əlʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, /ˌfʌŋ(k)ʃn̩l̩ʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, /ˌfʌŋ(k)ʃənl̩ʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, /ˌfʌŋ(k)ʃ(ə)nəlʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌfəŋ(k)ʃənl̩əˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌfəŋ(k)ʃnələˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/, /ˌfəŋ(k)ʃnəˌlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ 1. The process or action of making something functional; the process of acquiring a particular function.Originally used esp. with reference to biological functions.
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1866 G. W. Thompson Living Forces Universe i. iii. 83 The forces of functionalization, which builded the organs and endowed them, preceded the respective organisms.
1877 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 315 The probable manner in which the evolution and functionalization of the median anterior pair of teeth (incisors) came about in the gnawers.
1892 Med. News 31 Dec. 730/1 When large numbers of amblyopic eyes recover their lost acuteness of vision by means that permit and necessitate their functionalization.
1936 Bakersfield Californian 29 Jan. 9/8 Inference can be drawn from the maps to indicate how far present recreation facilities operate to employ constructively leisure time of the city's youth and if the need exists for the increased functionalization of such facilities.
2014 R. Hickey Sound Struct. Mod. Irish 285 This involved the functionalisation of phonetic phenomena at the beginning and end of words.
2. Originally U.S. The organization of a business or workplace according to the specialized function of individual workers or departments. Cf. functional adj. 1b.
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society > occupation and work > business affairs > management methods or systems > [noun] > other methods or systems
Sisyphism1846
concentration1848
sweating system1851
mutualization1904
functionalization1912
spread-over1919
taipanism1921
Taylorism1928
Taylorization1929
unitization1929
stretch-out1933
speed-up1935
Stakhanovism1936
corporatization1949
suboptimization1950
quality management1953
matrix management1959
customization1967
divisionalization1967
knowledge management1971
just-in-time1977
kanban system1977
intrapreneurialism1982
kaizen1985
hot-desking1991
hotelling1991
1912 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. 41 145 The plan of functionalization referred to may be extended so that departments or other organization units can be grouped according to the general functions they perform.
1923 R. H. Lansburgh Industr. Managem. 55 Functionalization has brought with it basic changes in the structure of industrial organizations.
1925 W. H. Leffingwell Office Managem. 118 The functionalization of all industrial departments.
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 4 Apr. 186/3 Collectivization and functionalization, in short, are facts: or rather, series of events, because they have happened historically and uncritically.
2012 Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) (Nexis) 2 May It's really about functionalization... Now people can be devoted entirely to disaster, development or communications, those types of avenues within the American Red Cross.
3.
a. Chemistry. The action or process of introducing a functional group into (part of) a molecule in order to alter the chemical behaviour of the molecule; (occasionally also) an instance of this.
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1966 Science 4 Mar. 1060 Two groups working independently..approached the problem through chemical functionalization of the angular methyl group.
1991 A. Bielański & J. Haber Oxygen in Catalysis ix. 423 Functionalization of methane to make it a useful reactant for organic synthesis is..of great..importance.
2010 Science 11 June 1365/2 Hypervalent iodine reagents have been used in many chemical reactions, including oxidations and functionalizations.
2013 N. E. Leadbeater & C. B. McGowan Lab. Exp. using Microwave Heating x. 101 The electrophilic addition of water is one of the most common methods for functionalization of alkenes and alkynes.
b. Chemistry and Materials Science. The action or process of attaching molecules or nanoparticles to (the surface of) a material in order to alter its physical or chemical properties; (occasionally also) an instance of this.
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1976 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 98 8272/2 In the case of the DSA electrodes the titanium backing was covered with Dow Corning Silastic 732 RTV after functionalization.
1995 Science 9 June 1465/2 The reactive functionalization of the metal cluster surface with bound polymerizable ligands provides a pathway that allows the clusters to chemically bind with the host matrix.
2009 V. Kochergin & H. Föll Porous Semiconductors xii. 198 Such a functionalization was successfully pursued to form porous silicon biorecognition interfaces.
2011 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 108 8544/1 Functionalization of the carbon nanotube surface can result in completely unique sites for recognition.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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