deliquesce (redirected from deliquesces)

del·i·quesce  (dl-kws)

intr.v. del·i·quesced, del·i·quesc·ing, del·i·quesc·es

1.

a. To melt away.

b. To disappear as if by melting.

2. Chemistry To dissolve and become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air.

3. Botany

a. To branch out into numerous subdivisions that lack a main axis, as the stem of an elm.

b. To become fluid or soft on maturing, as certain fungi.

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[Latin dliquscere : d-, de- + liquscere, to melt, inchoative of liqure, to be liquid.]

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deli·quescence n.

deli·quescent adj.

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deliquesce [ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs]

vb (intr)

1. (Chemistry) (esp of certain salts) to dissolve gradually in water absorbed from the air

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) (esp of certain fungi) to dissolve into liquid, usually at maturity

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) (of a plant stem) to form many branches

[from Latin dēliquēscere to melt away, become liquid, from de- + liquēscere to melt, from liquēre to be liquid]

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	deliquesce - melt away in the process of decay; "The fungi eventually deliquesced" decay - undergo decay or decomposition; "The body started to decay and needed to be cremated"
	2.	deliquesce - melt or become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air; "this type of salt deliquesces easily" dethaw, thaw, unfreeze, unthaw, melt, dissolve - become or cause to become soft or liquid; "The sun melted the ice"; "the ice thawed"; "the ice cream melted"; "The heat melted the wax"; "The giant iceberg dissolved over the years during the global warming phase"; "dethaw the meat"