impregnation
/ˌɪmpreɡˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪmpreɡˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌimˌpregˈnāshən/ (ame, mw)
impregnation — noun
1. the process of pushing a liquid, gas, or other substance deep into a material un
the process of pushing a liquid, gas, or other substance deep into a material until every part of it holds the substance.
The factory's impregnation of wood with a special oil keeps the planks dry for decades.
impregnation of [material] with [substance]
Heloísa explained that the impregnation of the rope with wax made it burn slowly and evenly.
the impregnation of X with Y for a practical purpose
Concrete impregnation with sealant stops water from soaking into the floor of the basement.
Gabriel studied the impregnation of paper with chemicals that change colour when warm hands touch them.
The museum used careful impregnation of the old fabric with resin to stop it falling apart.
- saturation
more general; can describe any filling of something to its limit, including market or sound.
- infusion
softer process word; often used for liquids slowly entering a porous material.
- permeation
stresses the substance passing through every part; more scientific.
文法句型
impregnation of [material] with [substance]
用法筆記
Subject is usually an industrial or technical process; almost always followed by 'of [material]' and often 'with [substance]'.
常見錯誤
2. the act or event of a male joining with a female so that a baby or young animal
the act or event of a male joining with a female so that a baby or young animal starts to grow inside her.
The vet recorded the date of impregnation so the farmer could plan for the calf's birth.
date of impregnation in animal-breeding contexts
In many fish, impregnation happens outside the body when eggs and sperm meet in the water.
impregnation as a biological event
Researchers at the zoo are studying impregnation in pandas, because few babies are born each year.
Kemi's biology teacher drew a clear picture to show impregnation in mammals.
After impregnation, the female frog lays her eggs near the edge of the pond.
- conception
the standard everyday and medical word for a baby starting to grow; not clinical sounding.
- fertilization
scientific; the moment an egg cell joins a sperm cell, in animals or plants.
- insemination
stresses the placing of sperm inside the female, often by humans helping animals breed.
文法句型
impregnation of [female]
impregnation by [male]
用法筆記
Typically used about animals or in scientific writing about humans; in everyday talk about people, words like 'conception' or 'getting pregnant' are far more common.
常見錯誤
3. the substance that has been pushed into a material to give it new qualities such
the substance that has been pushed into a material to give it new qualities such as strength, colour, or water resistance.
Élise scraped a small sample from the wall to test the impregnation under the microscope.
the impregnation as the substance itself
The roof tiles have a green impregnation that stops moss from growing on them.
adjective + impregnation describing the substance
Emre noticed that the impregnation in the old beams smelled strongly of pine tar.
Workers replaced the boards because the impregnation had worn off after thirty winters.
Feng chose a colourless impregnation so the natural wood grain would still show through.
文法句型
the impregnation in / on [material]
用法筆記
Countable here, unlike senses 1 and 2; refers to the physical material added, not the process. Distinguish from sense 1 by asking whether you can point to the substance itself.