irradiation

[ ih-rey-dee-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of irradiating.
2. the state of being irradiated.
3. intellectual or spiritual enlightenment.
4. a ray of light; beam.
5. Optics. the apparent enlargement of an object when seen against a dark background.
6. the use of x-rays or other forms of radiation for the treatment of disease, the making of x-ray photographs, the manufacture of vitamin D, etc.
7. exposure or the process of exposure to x-rays or other radiation.
8. Physics. irradiance.

irradiation

/ ɪˌreɪdɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of irradiating or the state of being irradiated
2. the apparent enlargement of a brightly lit object when it is viewed against a dark background
3. a shaft of light; beam or ray
4. med
   1. the therapeutic or diagnostic use of radiation, esp X-rays
   2. exposure of a patient to such radiation
5. another name for radiation irradiance

Other Words From

• postir·radi·ation adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of irradiation¹

First recorded in 1580–90, irradiation is from the Late Latin word irradiātiōn- (stem of irradiātiō ). See ir- ¹, radiation

Example Sentences

This would make the material well suited for spacecraft that have to spend very long periods under constant irradiation.

From Singularity Hub 

To the researchers’ surprise, after 24 hours of irradiation, less than 1 percent of the stubborn PFBS remained.

From Science News

The researchers estimate irradiation helped dissolve from 3 to 17 percent of surface oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, comparable to processes such as evaporation and stranding on coastlines.

From Science News

One of the technologies that Clinton singles out is food irradiation.

From MIT Technology Review

Over 20 seconds of irradiation, a spectrometer measured the wavelengths of light, or spectrum, given off by the ice.

From Science News

But an irradiation in the other direction is, unfortunately, at least as likely, if not more so.

From The Daily Beast

Twenty minutes after the irradiation period, the radioactivity of the calcium standards is measured by the same instrument.

From Project Gutenberg

The irradiation is resumed so that a uniform dose of neutrons bombards the patient from both front and back.

From Project Gutenberg

When the irradiation is first begun, the number of radioactive atoms increases steadily.

From Project Gutenberg

This will be true no matter where in the reactor or for how long the irradiation took place.

From Project Gutenberg

A woman who was sitting inside the cottage had seen and recognized her in that momentary irradiation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bulb
• candle
• daylight
• flash
• glare
• glow
• lamp
• lantern
• radiation
• ray
• star
• sun
• sunshine
• window