IONIZATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ionization mean? 

• IONIZATION (noun)
  The noun IONIZATION has 2 senses:

1. the condition of being dissociated into ions (as by heat or radiation or chemical reaction or electrical discharge)

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

  Familiarity information: IONIZATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IONIZATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The condition of being dissociated into ions (as by heat or radiation or chemical reaction or electrical discharge)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ionisation; ionization

Context example:

the ionization of a gas

Hypernyms ("ionization" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Derivation:

ionize (convert into ions)

ionize (become converted into ions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

ionisation; ionization

Hypernyms ("ionization" is a kind of...):

action; activity; natural action; natural process (a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings))

Derivation:

ionize (convert into ions)

ionize (become converted into ions)

 Context examples 

High-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes.

(Ionizing radiation, NCI Thesaurus)

A unit of measure of ionization in a linear accelerator treatment beam within the treatment head.

(Monitor Unit, NCI Thesaurus)

Concept does not refer to ion exchange, air ionization, and phonophoresis.

(Iontophoresis Route of Administration, NCI Thesaurus)

As stellar fusion continued, its resulting UV light began to rip apart the free-floating hydrogen atoms, stripping away their electrons in a process called ionization.

(Astronomers detect ancient signal from first stars in universe, National Science Foundation)

A technique that quantifies the x-rays emitted after ionization by a finely focused beam of electrons directed onto a flat polished specimen.

(Electron Microprobe Analysis, NCI Thesaurus)