sublimate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To heat (a substance) in a container so as to convert it into a gas which then condenses in solid form on cooler parts of the container.
  2. To change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently.
  3. To change (a substance) from a gas into a solid through sublimation.
  4. To refine (something) until it disappears or loses all meaning.
  5. To modify (the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct) in a socially acceptable manner; to divert the energy of (such an instinct) into some acceptable activity.
  6. To obtain (something) through, or as if through, sublimation.
  7. To purify or refine (a substance).
  8. Synonym of sublime.
  9. To raise (someone) to a high office or status; to dignify, to elevate, to exalt.
  10. To raise something to a state of excellence; to improve.
  11. Of a substance: to change from a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid state, with or without being heated.
  12. Of a substance: to change from a gas into a solid without passing through the liquid state.
noun
  1. A product obtained by sublimation.

Pronunciation

/ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/ en-us-sublimate.ogg en-au-sublimate.ogg /ˈsʌblɪmət/

Word forms

sublimate sublimates sublimating sublimated

Etymology

From Middle English sublymate, from Latin sublīmātus, past participle of sublīmāre (“to raise, elevate”).

Translations

Czech: sublimovat Finnish: sublimoida Finnish: ylevöittää French: sublimer German: sublimieren Japanese: 昇華させる Portuguese: sublimar Serbo-Croatian: сублимирати Serbo-Croatian: sublimirati Spanish: sublimar Swedish: sublimera
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.