Adjacent Words

ionization definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the condition of being dissociated into ions (as by heat or radiation or chemical reaction or electrical discharge); "the ionization of a gas" [syn: ionization, ionisation]
2: the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas [syn: ionization, ionisation]

Merriam Webster's

noun see ionize

Britannica Concise

Process by which electrically neutral atoms or molecules are converted to electrically charged atoms or molecules (ions) by the removal or addition of negatively charged electrons. It is one of the principal ways in which radiation transfers energy to matter, and hence of detecting radiation. In general, ionization occurs whenever sufficiently energetic charged particles or radiant energy travels through gases, liquids, or solids. A certain minimal level of ionization is present in the earth's atmosphere because of continuous absorption of cosmic rays from space and ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also -isation) the process of producing ions as a result of solvation, heat, radiation, etc. Phrases and idioms: ionization chamber an instrument for detecting ionizing radiation.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ionize I"on*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ionized; p. pr. & vb. n. Ionizing.] (Elec. Chem.) To separate (a compound) into ions, esp. by dissolving in water. -- I`on*i*za"tion, n.

Moby Thesaurus

alpha decay, anion, atom-chipping, atom-smashing, atomic disintegration, atomic reaction, atomization, beta decay, bombardment, breeding, bullet, cation, chain reaction, cleavage, disintegration series, dissociation, electrocoating, electroetching, electrogalvanization, electrogilding, electrograving, electrolysis, electrolyte, electroplating, exchange reaction, fission, fission reaction, galvanization, gamma decay, ion, ionogen, neutron reaction, nonelectrolyte, nonreversible reaction, nuclear fission, nucleization, photodisintegration, proton gun, proton reaction, reversible reaction, splitting the atom, stimulation, target, thermonuclear reaction