exposure

[ ik-spoh-zher ]

noun

1. the act of exposing, laying open, or uncovering:

   the sudden exposure of objects that were hidden under the blanket.

   Antonyms: concealment

2. the fact or state of being exposed:

   A bandage will avoid exposure of the wound.

3. disclosure, as of something private or secret:

   the exposure of their invasion plans.

   Synonyms: divulgement, exposé, revelation

4. an act or instance of revealing or unmasking, as an impostor, crime, or fraud:

   the exposure of graft and corruption.

5. presentation to view, especially in an open or public manner:

   His exposure of his anger shocked the company.

   Synonyms: display

6. indecent exposure ( def ):

   The suspect was arrested for exposure in public.

7. a laying open or subjecting to the action or influence of something:

   The exposure of his theories to ridicule destroyed his self-confidence.

8. the condition of being exposed to danger, harm, etc.:

   exposure to toxic mold;

   exposure to a deadly disease.

9. the condition of being exposed without protection to the effects of harsh weather, especially the cold:

   to suffer from exposure.

10. Photography.
    1. the act of presenting a photosensitive surface to rays of light.
    2. the total amount of light received by a photosensitive surface or an area of such a surface, expressed as the product of the degree of illumination and the period of illumination.
    3. the image resulting from the effects of light rays on a photosensitive surface.
11. situation with regard to sunlight or wind; aspect:

    a southern exposure.

12. a putting out or deserting, especially of a child, without shelter or protection; abandonment.
13. something exposed, as to view; an exposed surface:

    exposures of rock.

14. public appearance, notice, attention, mention, or discussion, especially in the media:

    great ways to gain exposure for your products on TV and on the internet.

15. a prominent, often overextended position or commitment, as in investment, that is considered precarious and risky:

    The bank was nervous about its exposure in Iran.

exposure

/ ɪkˈspəʊʒə /

noun

1. the act of exposing or the condition of being exposed
2. the position or outlook of a house, building, etc; aspect

   the bedroom has a southern exposure

3. lack of shelter from the weather, esp the cold

   to die of exposure

4. a surface that is exposed

   an exposure of granite

5. See exposed
   mountaineering the degree to which a climb, etc is exposed See exposed
6. photog
   1. the act of exposing a photographic film or plate to light, X-rays, etc
   2. an area on a film or plate that has been exposed to light, etc
   3. ( as modifier )

      exposure control

7. photog
   1. the intensity of light falling on a photographic film or plate multiplied by the time for which it is exposed
   2. a combination of lens aperture and shutter speed used in taking a photograph

      he used the wrong exposure

8. appearance or presentation before the public, as in a theatre, on television, or in films
9. See indecent exposure
   See indecent exposure

Other Words From

• nonex·posure noun
• postex·posure adjective
• reex·posure noun
• self-ex·posure noun
• semi·ex·posure noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exposure¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; expose + -ure

Example Sentences

Tucking in with wet feet can cause frostbite or injury called immersion or trench foot, caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions that—worst-case scenario—can cause skin tissue to die.

From Popular-Science

Sometimes it is a forum for executives to gain exposure to board members and for board members to have the opportunity to evaluate and provide input on executives.

From TechCrunch

Some of the students have parents or siblings with health issues who can’t risk exposure to the virus.

From Washington Post

They have suffered the sharpest drop in employment since March, and many who have held onto jobs are essential workers who risk exposure every day.

From Washington Post

More data could lead to more investment and more downloads, says Wanger, whose work supports the development and analysis of exposure notification apps.

From MIT Technology Review

The exposure and buzz from Short Term have raised her profile considerably.

From The Daily Beast

How has your sense of the art of self-exposure evolved since then?

From The Daily Beast

This season is all about monitoring posture, scrutinizing sun exposure, even exploring the health of a pet.

From The Daily Beast

She tells clients to open curtains as much as possible to get exposure to natural light right when the body is waking up.

From The Daily Beast

For people with SAD, or a bad case of the winter blues, doctors might prescribe a certain amount of light exposure.

From The Daily Beast

When first seen it is said to have had a pasty consistency, but on exposure to the air it dried and crumbled into powder.

From Project Gutenberg

One step might spoil everything and lead to an exposure, the consequences of which were altogether too terrible to contemplate.

From Project Gutenberg

"I should have thought, Sir Hugh, that in face of what must inevitably result you would not risk exposure," he said.

From Project Gutenberg

But Weirmarsh, with his innate cunning, presented to him a picture of exposure and degradation which held him horrified.

From Project Gutenberg

Did they perish from exposure to hunger and exhaustion, and the freezing blasts of winter?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disclosure
• hazard
• liability
• publicity
• risk
• vulnerability