condensation
/ˌkɒndenˈseɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːndenˈseɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkän-ˌden-ˈsā-shən -dən-/ (ame, mw)
condensation — noun
1. small droplets you can see collecting on something cold — like a window, bathroo
small droplets you can see collecting on something cold — like a window, bathroom mirror, or chilled glass — when warm moist air around the object cools
Mira wiped the condensation off the bathroom mirror before brushing her teeth.
condensation off + [surface]
Every winter morning, thick condensation forms on the kitchen window in Christopher's old farmhouse.
condensation forms on + [surface]
The cold beer glass left a ring of condensation on the wooden table.
Heavy condensation inside the car windows made it hard for Luca to see the road.
Better ventilation should reduce the condensation on these old single-pane windows.
文法句型
condensation on [surface]
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. Subject is typically a surface that is colder than the surrounding air (window, mirror, glass, pipe). Distinguish from sense 2 (the physical process): sense 1 is the visible water itself, sense 2 is the change of state that produced it.
常見錯誤
2. the physical change in which a gas turns into a liquid (and sometimes directly i
the physical change in which a gas turns into a liquid (and sometimes directly into a solid), usually because its temperature drops
Clouds are formed by the condensation of water vapor high in the cool air.
condensation of [substance]
Élise's chemistry teacher used a kettle and a cold plate to demonstrate condensation in class.
demonstrate condensation
Engineers must control the rate of condensation inside the cooling pipes to avoid corrosion.
Without condensation, rain could never fall from the sky.
Ari studied how rapid condensation can damage delicate electronic parts inside a sealed device.
- liquefaction
technical synonym, especially for turning a gas into liquid under pressure; rare outside science writing
- evaporation
the opposite process: liquid turning into gas as it warms
- vaporization
any change from liquid (or solid) into gas; broader than evaporation
文法句型
condensation of [substance]
用法筆記
Used in physics, chemistry, and weather contexts. Often paired with 'evaporation' as opposite processes. Subject is typically a gas or vapor (water vapor, steam, ammonia). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is the named process; sense 1 is the visible result of it on a surface.
常見錯誤
3. the act of making a long piece of writing or speech much shorter by leaving out
the act of making a long piece of writing or speech much shorter by leaving out details that are not essential, or the short version that results
The magazine printed a condensation of Vivek's three-hundred-page memoir for its summer issue.
a condensation of [book / work]
Yan asked the editor for a careful condensation of the report before the board meeting.
a careful / skilful condensation
Skilful condensation of a long novel is harder than writing the original.
Sirin produced a tight condensation of the academic paper for the general audience.
- abridgment
near-synonym, slightly more formal; typically used for shortened books
- summary
broader and more common; can be informal notes, not necessarily a polished short version
- digest
a published short version, often of news or articles
- expansion
the opposite: making a short work longer with more detail
文法句型
a condensation of [longer work]
用法筆記
Formal register; common in publishing and academic contexts. Object is typically a long written or spoken work (book, report, speech, lecture). Often used with adjectives like 'skilful', 'careful', 'tight'. Distinguish from sense 1 and 2: this sense has nothing to do with water or gases — it is about textual abridgment.