condensation
/kɒndɛnˈseɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1Water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it: the inside of the cab steamed up with condensation...
- Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation.
- If the warm packages are handled with unsterile hands or placed on cold surfaces where condensation may form, the sterility of the package may be compromised.
- It can help to reduce building maintenance requirements by eliminating or drastically reducing condensation on the interior surfaces of windows, particularly in cold climates.
Synonyms
moisture, water droplets, steam
2The conversion of a vapour or gas to a liquid: the cloud is caused by condensation in the air...
- If the air parcel is cooled, the gaseous water molecules slow down and take a liquid form, so condensation dominates.
- A gas changing to a liquid is condensation and a liquid changing to a solid is freezing.
- There was probably a lot of sulphur, sulphuric acid, a lot of carbonation and condensation, all very damaging to the concrete.
Synonyms
precipitation, liquefaction, deliquescence;
distillation
2.1 (also condensation reaction) [count noun] Chemistry A reaction in which two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, producing a small molecule such as H2O as a by-product.The first synthetic polymer produced by a condensation reaction was Bakelite....
- Peptide bond formation is a condensation reaction leading to the polymerization of amino acids into peptides and proteins.
- Imide resins are prepared by the condensation of an anhydride and diamine, via a polyamic acid intermediate.
2.2 Psychology The fusion of two or more images or ideas into a single composite or new image, as a primary process in unconscious thought exemplified in dreams.Freud analyses what he calls the technique of jokes, and points out that some of the mechanisms employed are indeed to be found in dreams; in particular, condensation, and the substitution of one word for another....
- As Jones pointed out, any symbol is the result of psychological condensation.
- The work of condensation in dreams is seen at its clearest when it handles words and names.
3 [count noun] A concise version of something, especially a text: a readable condensation of the recent literature...
- We have one other major article, a condensation of a piece by Dave Snowden from the Journal of Knowledge Management.
- He has written about a hundred short stories, many articles, condensations of Ramayan and Mahabharat, Chalantika, a much-used Bengali dictionary and translated the Gita and Meghdoot.
- So I offer the following condensations on the basis that they'll either inspire trips to the bookshop, or save you the bother.
Synonyms
abridgement, summary, synopsis, precis, abstract, digest, encapsulation
shortening, abridgement, abbreviation, cutting, summarization
Origin
Early 17th century: from late Latin condensatio(n-), from condensare 'press close together' (see condense).