sublimation

[ suhb-luh-mey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Psychology. the diversion of the energy of a sexual or other biological impulse from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.
2. Chemistry. the act, fact, or process of subliming.
3. a purification or refinement; ennoblement.

sublimation

/ sŭb′lə-mā′shən /

1. The process of changing from a solid to a gas without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. Carbon dioxide, at a pressure of one atmosphere, sublimates at about −78 degrees Celsius. Ice and snow on the Earth's surface also sublimate at temperatures below the freezing point of water.
2. Compare deposition

sublimation

¹

1. In Freudian psychology, a defense mechanism by which the individual satisfies a socially prohibited instinctive drive (usually sexual or aggressive) through the substitution of socially acceptable behavior. For example, someone with strong sexual drives who paints nude portraits may be engaging in sublimation.

sublimation

²

1. In chemistry , the direct conversion of a solid into a gas , without passage through a liquid stage. ( See phases of matter .)

Other Words From

• subli·mation·al adjective
• nonsub·li·mation noun
• resub·li·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sublimation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle French, from Late Latin sublimation-, stem of sublimatio “elevation,” equivalent to Latin sublimāt(us), past participle of sublimāre “to elevate” + -iō -ion ( def ); sublimate ( def )

Example Sentences

Readers will understandably recoil at the musician’s callousness, especially given Mintz’s sublimation of himself in the service of Lennon and Ono.

From Salon

Once the sample has been fully solidified, the solid solvent is removed by sublimation during lyophilization.

From Science Daily

"We call that 'sublimation'. The process is extremely explosive due to Mars' low air pressure. The created gas pressure pushes sediment grains apart causing the material to flow, similar to debris flows in mountainous areas on Earth. These flows can reshape the Martian landscape -- even in the absence of water."

From Science Daily

Sublimation is to change directly from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid.

From Science Daily

As several COMs, including those detected in the solid phase in this research, were previously detected in the warm gas phase, it is now believed that they originate from the sublimation of ices.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• reticence
• self-consciousness
• shyness