vaporization
vaporization — noun
1. the change in which a liquid or solid becomes a gas, often through heating or a
the change in which a liquid or solid becomes a gas, often through heating or a drop in pressure
The vaporization of liquid nitrogen produces an impressive cloud of white gas.
noun + of + substance describing a physical process
Scientists recorded the vaporization rate of ethanol at three different temperatures.
collocation: vaporization rate / vaporization point
The volcano's heat caused the rapid vaporization of snow around the crater.
During the experiment, Niran measured the vaporization point of the unknown liquid sample.
- evaporation
more common in everyday speech; specifically refers to liquid→gas at the surface, usually gradual
- sublimation
a specific type of vaporization where a solid changes directly into a gas without passing through liquid
- condensation
the opposite process — gas turning back into a liquid
文法句型
vaporization + of + substance
用法筆記
Frequently used in scientific and technical writing to describe phase changes. The uncountable noun refers to the general process, not an individual event.
常見錯誤
vaporization — verb
- vaporizationpresent simple I / you / we / they
- vaporizations3rd person singular
- vaporizationing-ing form
- vaporizationedpast simple
1. to apply enough heat or pressure so that a substance in liquid or solid form cha
to apply enough heat or pressure so that a substance in liquid or solid form changes into a gas
The morning sun vaporized the thin layer of frost on the car windows.
transitive: sun + vaporize + object (frost)
The chef used a small torch to vaporize the herbs and release their aroma.
transitive: use [tool] to vaporize [substance]
Heat from the engine vaporizes any water that leaks onto the hot metal parts.
Antonia used a small electric heater to vaporize the remaining liquid in the flask.
- evaporate
used for gradual liquid-to-gas change at the surface, without the implication of forceful heat
- boil
more everyday; requires heating to boiling point and describes bubbling action
- volatilize
highly technical term used in chemistry for substances that turn to gas easily
- condense
to turn from gas back into a liquid
文法句型
vaporize + object
be vaporized + by/with [heat/pressure/tool]
用法筆記
Subject is typically a source of heat or energy. The direct object is the substance being changed. This sense is common in laboratory instructions, cooking techniques, and weather descriptions.
常見錯誤
2. to change into a gas, especially when a liquid or solid is heated
to change into a gas, especially when a liquid or solid is heated
The puddle on the driveway vaporized within an hour of the sun coming out.
intransitive: subject (puddle) + vaporized — no object
When the pressure dropped, the liquid in the tank began to vaporize suddenly.
Some of the alcohol vaporized during the experiment and affected the measurement.
The acetone on the laboratory bench vaporized within a few minutes.
文法句型
subject + vaporized
subject + vaporizes + [adverb of time/speed]
用法筆記
The subject is the substance that changes state. No direct object follows. Compare with sense 1 (transitive), where an external force acts on the substance. Frequently used with adverbs of manner or rate: quickly, slowly, gradually.
常見錯誤
3. (of an abstract thing such as a feeling, hope, excitement, or amount of money) t
(of an abstract thing such as a feeling, hope, excitement, or amount of money) to gradually disappear
All of Omar's savings vaporized after the stock market crash last year.
figurative: abstract subject (savings / hopes / chances) + vaporized
Lin's excitement about the trip vaporized when she saw the cancelled flight notice.
The company's chances of survival vaporized once the scandal became public news.
Rania's patience vaporized after waiting two hours for the delayed train.
- disappear
neutral and more common; does not carry the same connotation of gradual fading
- evaporate
similar figurative use (e.g. 'my patience evaporated'); more common in everyday speech
- melt away
phrasal verb; suggests a gentle, gradual disappearance
- fade
suggests a slow, incomplete disappearance rather than total vanishing
- materialize
to appear or take shape, as though becoming real
- accumulate
to build up or gather over time (opposite of disappearing)
文法句型
subject (abstract noun) + vaporized
subject + vaporized + [time/cause phrase]
用法筆記
Figurative sense only. Subject is typically an abstract noun: hopes, savings, profits, patience, excitement, chances. Grammatically, the verb behaves like sense 2 (intransitive), so there is no direct object. If you want a transitive figurative structure, use sense 4.
常見錯誤
4. to completely destroy something using extreme heat or force, as though reducing
to completely destroy something using extreme heat or force, as though reducing it to gas
In the science fiction film, the laser cannon vaporized an entire mountain.
figurative: destructive weapon + vaporize + object (mountain)
The bomb's explosion was powerful enough to vaporize everything within fifty meters.
The superhero's energy blast vaporized the robot into a cloud of sparks and dust.
The alien spacecraft vaporized the office tower with a single energy beam.
- annihilate
means to destroy completely; similar intensity but less specific about the mechanism
- obliterate
to destroy so completely that nothing remains; close in register and force
- incinerate
to destroy by burning; similar in violence but fire-based rather than heat/pressure based
文法句型
vaporize + object
vaporize + object + into + result noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in action movies, video games, science fiction, and descriptions of extreme explosions. Unlike sense 3, which is about abstract things disappearing over time, this sense describes violent, instantaneous destruction of physical objects.