VAPORIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vaporize mean? 

• VAPORIZE (verb)
  The verb VAPORIZE has 4 senses:

1. kill with or as if with a burst of gunfire or electric current or as if by shooting

2. turn into gas

3. lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization leaving a more concentrated residue

4. decrease rapidly and disappear

  Familiarity information: VAPORIZE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VAPORIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they vaporize    ... he / she / it vaporizes   
Past simple: vaporized   
Past participle: vaporized   
-ing form: vaporizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Kill with or as if with a burst of gunfire or electric current or as if by shooting

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

vaporize; zap

Context example:

in this computer game, space travellers are vaporized by aliens

Hypernyms (to "vaporize" is one way to...):

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turn into gas

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

aerify; gasify; vaporise; vaporize

Context example:

The substance gasified

Hypernyms (to "vaporize" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vaporize"):

sublimate; sublime (change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

vapor (the process of becoming a vapor)

vapor (a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance)

vaporizable ((used of substances) capable of being volatilized)

vaporization (the process of becoming a vapor)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization leaving a more concentrated residue

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

evaporate; vaporise; vaporize

Context example:

evaporate milk

Hypernyms (to "vaporize" is one way to...):

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vaporize"):

transpire (exude water vapor)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence examples:

The water vaporizes
They vaporize the water

Derivation:

vapor (the process of becoming a vapor)

vapor (a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance)

vaporizable ((used of substances) capable of being volatilized)

vaporization (the process of becoming a vapor)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Decrease rapidly and disappear

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

fly; vanish; vaporize

Context example:

all my stock assets have vaporized

Hypernyms (to "vaporize" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Verb group:

fell; fly; vanish (pass away rapidly)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

However, vaporizing the ice caps would only contribute enough CO2 to double the Martian pressure to 1.2 percent of Earth’s, according to the new analysis.

(Mars Terraforming Not Possible Using Present-Day Technology, NASA)

Together these features indicated a ring of dusty debris circling the white dwarf, and what could be the signature of a small planet being vaporized.

(K2 Finds Dead Star Vaporizing a Mini 'Planet', NASA)

Vaporized active and/or inert ingredient(s) intended for administration by inhalation.

(Inhalant Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

Like most sungrazing comets, this comet was torn apart and vaporized by the intense forces near the sun.

(ESA, NASA’s SOHO Sees Bright Sungrazer Comet, NASA)

The heat from the Sun causes some of the dirty snow to vaporize, creating the fuzzy halo or "coma" of water vapor, dust and ice grains seen in comet images.

(Comet Provides New Clues to Origins of Earth's Oceans, NASA)

Once there, the icy ring particles vaporize and the water can react chemically with Saturn’s ionosphere.

(Saturn is Losing Its Rings, NASA)

The use of a laser either to vaporize surface lesions or to make bloodless cuts in tissue.

(Laser surgery, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon activation of an appropriate valve system, the liquid is expelled into the air, the propellant is vaporized and the ingredients are dispersed.

(Aerosol Solution Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

These observations provide insight into the volatile behavior of comets as they approach the sun and begin to vaporize, unleashing dynamical forces.

(Hubble Takes Close-up Look at Disintegrating Comet, NASA)

Dust from the comet impacted Mars and was vaporized high in the atmosphere, producing what was likely an impressive meteor shower.

(Mars Spacecraft Reveal Comet Flyby Effects on Martian Atmosphere, NASA)