ex·tinc·tion ( k-stngk sh n)n. 1. a. The act of extinguishing. b. The condition of being extinguished. 2. The fact of being extinct or the process of becoming extinct: "The most effective agent in the extinction of species is the pressure of other species" (Alfred R. Wallace). 3. Psychology A reduction or a loss in the strength or rate of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus or reinforcement is withheld. 4. Physiology A gradual decrease in the excitability of a nerve to a previously adequate stimulus, usually resulting in total loss of excitability. |
extinction [ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən]
n
1. the act of making extinct or the state of being extinct
2. the act of extinguishing or the state of being extinguished
3. complete destruction; annihilation
4. (Physics / General Physics) Physics reduction of the intensity of radiation as a result of absorption or scattering by matter
5. (Astronomy) Astronomy the dimming of light from a celestial body as it passes through an absorbing or scattering medium, such as the earth's atmosphere or interstellar dust
6. (Psychology) Psychol a process in which the frequency or intensity of a learned response is decreased as a result of reinforcement being withdrawn Compare habituation
| extinction (k-stngkshn) 1. The fact of being extinct or the process of becoming extinct. See more at background extinctionmass extinction 2. A progressive decrease in the strength of a conditioned response, often resulting in its elimination, because of withdrawal of a specific stimulus. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | extinction - no longer active; extinguished; "the extinction of the volcano" |
| 2. |  extinction - no longer in existence; "the extinction of a species"death - the absence of life or state of being dead; "he seemed more content in death than he had ever been in life" | |
| 3. | extinction - the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation absorption - (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium; "the absorption of photons by atoms or molecules" natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" scattering - the physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions | |
| 4. |  extinction - complete annihilation; "they think a meteor cause the extinction of the dinosaurs"annihilation, disintegration - total destruction; "bomb tests resulted in the annihilation of the atoll" | |
| 5. | extinction - a conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus conditioning - a learning process in which an organism's behavior becomes dependent on the occurrence of a stimulus in its environment | |
| 6. |  extinction - the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning; "the extinction of the lights" |
extinction
noun dying out, death, destruction, abolition, oblivion, extermination, annihilation, eradication, obliteration, excision, extirpation Many species have been hunted to the point of extinction.
Translations
extinction
n (of race, family, animal, species, tribe) → Aussterben nt; (= annihilation) → Ausrottung f; threatened with or faced with or in danger of extinction → vom Aussterben bedroht; this animal was hunted to extinction → diese Tierart wurde durch Jagen ausgerottet
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