anhydration
|an-hy-dra-tion|
/ˌænhaɪˈdreɪʃən/
making or becoming water-free
Etymology
'anhydration' originates from New Latin scientific formation based on Greek, specifically the word 'anhydros', where 'an-' meant 'without' and 'hydor' meant 'water'; the noun is formed with the suffix '-ation'.
'anhydros' entered scientific Latin and English as 'anhydrous'; from this base, English formed the verb 'anhydrate' and later the noun 'anhydration' in 19th-century scientific usage, which became the modern technical term 'anhydration'.
Initially, it meant 'the act of making something without water', and it has remained largely technical, now broadly used for processes and states resulting from water removal.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process of removing water from a substance, especially the loss of water of crystallization that yields an anhydrous form.
Thermal anhydration of gypsum produces anhydrite.
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Noun 2
the state or condition achieved after water has been removed; an anhydrous state.
Complete anhydration is required for this catalyst to remain active.
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Noun 3
in geology and materials science, a transformation in which a hydrous mineral or hydrate converts to its anhydrous form under heat or low water activity.
Subduction-zone anhydration releases fluids that drive arc magmatism.
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Noun 4
in pharmaceutical solids, the solid-state conversion of a crystalline hydrate to an anhydrous polymorph.
Anhydration of lactose monohydrate can occur during drying.
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Last updated: 2025/08/10 18:38