Adjacent Words

Sublimate definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SUBLIMATE, v.t. [from sublime.]
1. To bring a solid substance, as camphor or sulphur, into the state of vapor by heat, which on cooling, returns again to the solid state. [See Sublimation.]
2. To refine and exalt; to highthen; to elevate.
And as his actions rose, so raise they still their vein, in words whose weight best suits a sublimated strain.
SUBLIMATE, n. The product of a sublimation. Corrosive sublimate is the muriate of mercury when it has undergone sublimation. It is one of the most virulent of the mineral poisons.
Blue sublimate, is a preparation of mercury with flower of brimstone and sal ammoniac; used in painting.
SUBLIMATE, a. Brought into a state of vapor by heat and again condensed, as solid substances.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: made pure n
1: the product of vaporization of a solid v
1: direct energy or urges into useful activities
2: make more subtle or refined [syn: rarefy, sublimate, subtilize]
3: remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation; "purify the water" [syn: purify, sublimate, make pure, distill]
4: change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting; "sublime iodine"; "some salts sublime when heated" [syn: sublime, sublimate]
5: vaporize and then condense right back again [syn: sublime, sublimate]

Merriam Webster's

I. transitive verb (-mated; -mating) Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin sublimatus, past participle of sublimare Date: 15th century 1. a. sublime 1 b. archaic to improve or refine as if by subliming 2. to divert the expression of (an instinctual desire or impulse) from its unacceptable form to one that is considered more socially or culturally acceptable • sublimation noun II. noun Date: circa 1626 a chemical product obtained by sublimation

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v., adj., & n. --v.tr. 1 divert the energy of (a primitive impulse, esp. sexual) into a culturally higher activity. 2 Chem. convert (a substance) from the solid state directly to its vapour by heat, and usu. allow it to solidify again. 3 refine; purify; idealize. --adj. 1 Chem. (of a substance) sublimated. 2 purified, refined. --n. Chem. 1 a sublimated substance. 2 = corrosive sublimate. Derivatives: sublimation n. Etymology: L sublimare sublimat- SUBLIME v.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sublimate Sub"li*mate, a. [LL. sublimatus.] Brought into a state of vapor by heat, and again condensed as a solid.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sublimate Sub"li*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sublimated; p. pr. & vb. n. Sublimating.] [L. sublimatus, p. p. of sublimare to raise, elevate, fr. sublimis high: cf. F. sublimer. See Sublime, a., and cf. Surlime, v. t.] 1. To bring by heat into the state of vapor, which, on cooling, returns again to the solid state; as, to sublimate sulphur or camphor. 2. To refine and exalt; to heighten; to elevate. The precepts of Christianity are . . . so apt to cleanse and sublimate the more gross and corrupt. --Dr. H. More.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sublimate Sub"li*mate, n. [LL. sublimatum.] (Chem.) A product obtained by sublimation; hence, also, a purified product so obtained. Corrosive sublimate. (Chem.) See under Corrosive.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(sublimates, sublimating, sublimated) If you sublimate a strong desire or feeling, you express it in a way that is socially acceptable. (TECHNICAL or FORMAL) He could try to sublimate the problem by writing, in detail, about it... VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. (Chem.) See sublime. 2. Refine, exalt, elevate, heighten.

Moby Thesaurus

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