sublimate meaning

UK US

sublimate (verb): vaporize and then condense right back again.

sublimate has 7 meanings in this dictionary, as verb, adjective and noun.

sublimate as a verb

  1. vaporize and then condense right back again

    Synonyms: sublime

    Type of: change

    Kinds: resublime

  2. change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting
    • sublime iodine
    • some salts sublime when heated

    Synonyms: sublime

    Type of: gasify

    Related forms: sublimation

  3. direct energy or urges into useful activities

    Type of: redirect

    Kinds: desexualize

    Related forms: sublimation

  4. make more subtle or refined

    Synonyms: rarefy, subtilize

    Type of: change

  5. remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation
    • purify the water

    Synonyms: purify, make pure, distill

    Type of: better

    Kinds: refine, purge

sublimate as an adjective

  1. made pure

    Similar: pure

sublimate as a noun

  1. the product of vaporization of a solid

    Type of: gas

    Kinds: mercuric chloride

    Related forms: sublime

Scrabble score: 13 (letter breakdown)

Word lists: words starting with SU · words ending in TE · 9-letter words

More about sublimate on Wikipedia.