deliquesce
(redirected from deliquescing)Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical.
del·i·quesce
(dĕl′ĭ-kwĕs′)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 become fluid or soft on maturing, as certain fungal structures.
b. To branch out into numerous subdivisions that lack a main axis, as the trunk of an elm.
[Latin dēliquēscere : dē-, de- + liquēscere, to melt, inchoative of liquēre, to be liquid.]
del′i·ques′cence n.
del′i·ques′cent adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
deliquesce
(ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs)vb (intr)
1. (Chemistry) (esp of certain salts) to dissolve gradually in water absorbed from the air
2. (Biology) (esp of certain fungi) to dissolve into liquid, usually at maturity
3. (Botany) (of a plant stem) to form many branches
[C18: from Latin dēliquēscere to melt away, become liquid, from de- + liquēscere to melt, from liquēre to be liquid]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
del•i•quesce
(ˌdɛl ɪˈkwɛs)v.i. -quesced, -quesc•ing.
1. to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air, as certain salts.
2. to melt away.
3. Bot.
a. to form many small divisions or branches.
b. to become liquid in the course of maturity, as certain fungi.
[1750–60; < Latin dēliquēscere to become liquid =dē- de- + liquēscere; see liquescent]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
deliquesce
Past participle: deliquesced
Gerund: deliquescing
Imperative |
---|
deliquesce |
deliquesce |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new 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" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
deliquesce
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.