condense

[ kuhn-dens ]

verb (used with object)

, con·densed, con·dens·ing.

1. to make more dense or compact; reduce the volume or extent of; concentrate.

   Synonyms: consolidate, compress

   Antonyms: expand

2. to reduce to a shorter form; abridge:

   Condense your answer into a few words.

   Synonyms: abbreviate, abstract, epitomize, digest

3. to reduce to another and denser form, as a gas or vapor to a liquid or solid state.

verb (used without object)

, con·densed, con·dens·ing.

1. to become denser or more compact or concentrated.
2. to reduce a book, speech, statement, or the like, to a shorter form.
3. to become liquid or solid, as a gas or vapor:

   The steam condensed into droplets.

condense

/ kənˈdɛns /

verb

1. tr to increase the density of; compress
2. to reduce or be reduced in volume or size; make or become more compact
3. to change or cause to change from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state
4. chem to undergo or cause to undergo condensation

Derived Forms

• conˈdensable, adjective
• conˌdensaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• over·con·dense verb overcondensed overcondensing
• precon·dense verb precondensed precondensing
• recon·dense verb recondensed recondensing
• uncon·densing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of condense¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French condenser, from Latin condēnsāre, from con- con- + dēnsāre “to thicken,” verb derivative of dēnsus dense

Word History and Origins

Origin of condense¹

C15: from Latin condēnsāre, from dēnsāre to make thick, from dēnsus dense

Synonym Study

See contract.

Example Sentences

"The earth's atmosphere contains an abundance of untapped fresh water, but we desperately need materials that can efficiently capture and collect this humidity and condense it into potable water," said Naumov.

From Science Daily

When a plane passes through cold humid air, the contrails form as the vapour from the engines condenses on unburned fuel fragments in the exhaust stream.

From BBC

As the high persists, the low cloud continues to feed itself by re-thickening overnight as temperatures drop and moisture condenses.

From BBC

“Let’s Fly” exhibition, are striped, spotted, shaped like doughnuts and light up in the night sky like condensed, dirigible versions of Ugo Rondinone’s “Seven Magic Mountains” sculpture.

From Los Angeles Times

They are not easy to see, and seem to condense the crowd into a tight area.

From BBC

Related Words

• compress
• curtail
• shorten
• summarize
• thicken