emission

[ ih-mish-uhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of emitting:

   the emission of poisonous fumes.

2. something that is emitted; discharge; emanation.
3. an act or instance of issuing, as paper money.
4. Electronics. a measure of the number of electrons emitted by the heated filament or cathode of a vacuum tube.
5. an ejection or discharge of semen or other fluid from the body.

   Synonyms: ejaculation

6. the fluid ejected or discharged.

   Synonyms: ejaculate

emission

/ ɪˈmɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of emitting or sending forth
2. energy, in the form of heat, light, radio waves, etc, emitted from a source
3. a substance, fluid, etc, that is emitted; discharge
4. a measure of the number of electrons emitted by a cathode or electron gun See also secondary emission thermionic emission

   at 1000°C the emission is 3 mA

5. physiol any bodily discharge, esp an involuntary release of semen during sleep
6. an issue, as of currency

Derived Forms

• eˈmissive, adjective

Other Words From

• none·mission noun
• ree·mission noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of emission¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Middle French or directly from Latin ēmissiōn- (stem of ēmissiō ), equivalent to ēmiss(us), past participle of ēmittere “to send forth” ( ē- “from, out of” + mit-, stem of mittere “to send” + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- noun suffix; emit, e- ¹, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of emission¹

C17: from Latin ēmissiō, from ēmittere to send forth, emit

Example Sentences

Other researchers cautioned that just because the country’s total emissions can be divided by the number of people inside its borders does not mean that each person contributes the same amount.

From Salon

Nuclear energy is often hailed for its low carbon emissions compared to other sources like natural gas or coal.

From BBC

Leaving the agreement would mean the US is no longer beholden to meeting set carbon emissions reductions.

From BBC

She said Shell accepted the existence of climate change; accepted that greenhouse gas emissions contributed to climate change; and accepted that urgent action was needed to tackle it.

From BBC

High greenhouse gas emissions from human activity cause global temperatures to rise, melting ice sheets and glaciers, which in turn increases the volume of water in the ocean — encroaching on shorelines around the world.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• discharge
• radiation

More About Emission

What does emission mean?

An emission is something that has been emitted—released or discharged. In general, emissions consist of things like gas, liquid, heat, sound, light, and radiation.

Emissions can come from natural sources or from machines. A specific example of an emission is the exhaust from cars (in the U.S., such emissions are regulated through emissions tests). This exhaust is just one form of carbon emissions—greenhouse gases from various sources that are known to contribute to global warming and climate change.

Emission can also refer to an instance or the process of emitting, as in This filter is designed to reduce the emission of light. 

Example: Carbon dioxide emissions from volcanoes are much lower than those from cars and airplanes.

Where does emission come from?

The first records of the word emission come from the early 1600s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb ēmittere, from e-, meaning “out of,” and mittere, “to send.”

An emission is something sent out from something else. Such emissions are often by-products released during the course of other processes—such as smoke being emitted from a factory or heat being emitted from a machine. Emissions from cars and airplanes come from the burning of fuel by their engines. In physics and electronics, the word is used in a more specific way to refer to the amount of electrons being emitted from an object.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to emission?

• emissive (adjective)
• nonemission (noun)
• reemission (verb)
• emit (verb)

What are some synonyms for emission?

• discharge
• emanation

What are some words that share a root or word element with emission? 

• remission
• remit
• mission

What are some words that often get used in discussing emission?

• carbon
• car
• exhaust
• gas
• liquid
• fluid
• sound
• light
• heat
• radiation
• pollution
• electron

How is emission used in real life?

Emissions are usually discussed in technical or scientific contexts.

The drop in carbon emissions due to coronavirus lockdowns won’t last. But as we rebuild, we have a unique opportunity to make the structural changes required to hit net-zero targets, says Corinne Le Quéré https://t.co/zvZeA9hOL6 pic.twitter.com/g6CyogTezd

— New Scientist (@newscientist) July 6, 2020

BREAKING: Twenty-three states sue to stop Trump administration from revoking California's authority to set auto emission standards.

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 20, 2019

"I propose this evening to speak to you on a new kind of radiation or light emission from atoms and molecules."

– Venkata Raman at the University of Calcutta on 16 March 1928. He was awarded the #NobelPrize for the Raman effect. pic.twitter.com/87DxJ0EBva

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) March 16, 2020

 

 

Try using emission!

An emission can consist of which of the following things?

A. liquid
B. gas
C. sound
D. all of the above