rarefaction

rarefaction
1. The process of becoming light or less dense; the condition of being light; opposed to condensation. 2. In vascular physiology, the process that results in a reduction in the density of capillaries in a tissue. [L. rarus, thin, scanty + facio, to make]

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rar·e·fac·tion .rar-ə-'fak-shən, .rer- n
1) the action or process of rarefying
2) the quality or state of being rarefied esp an increase in porosity <areas of \rarefaction in the bones>
3) a state or region of minimum pressure in a medium transversed by compressional waves (as sound waves) <the eardrum vibrates according to the compressions and \rarefactions of the sound wave>
rar·e·fac·tion·al -shnəl, -shən-əl adj

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n.
thinning of bony tissue sufficient to cause decreased density of bone to X-rays, as in osteoporosis.

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rar·e·fac·tion (rar″ə-fakґshən) [L. rarefactio] the condition of being or becoming less dense; diminution in density and weight, but not in volume.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • raréfaction — [ rarefaksjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1370; lat. médiév. rarefactio 1 ♦ Fait de se raréfier; diminution de la densité d un gaz et augmentation de son volume. Raréfaction de l air en haute montagne. Pathol. Raréfaction du tissu osseux : ostéoporose. 2 ♦ (1872)… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Rarefaction — is the reduction of a medium s density, or the opposite of compression. A natural example of this is as a phase in a sound wave or phonon. Half of a sound wave is made up of the compression of the medium, and the other half is the decompression… …   Wikipedia

  • rarefaction — Rarefaction. s. f. v. Terme dogmatique. Action de rarefier, & estat de ce qui est rarefié. Il est opposé à condensation. La rarefaction de l air. cela se fait par la rarefaction …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Rarefaction — Rar e*fac tion (r[a^]r [ e]*f[a^]k sh[u^]n), n. [Cf. F. rar[ e]faction. See {Rarefy}.] The act or process of rarefying; the state of being rarefied; opposed to condensation; as, the rarefaction of air. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rarefaction — (v. lat.), 1) Ausdehnung einer diffusibeln in einem begrenzten Raume eingeschlossenen Materie, so daß auf ein gegebenes Raumtheilchen von der darin enthaltenen Materie weniger Atome, als vorher, gehen, die Atome also darin seltener geworden sind; …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Rarefaction — Rarefaction, lat. deutsch, Erweiterung der Schweißlöcher; Verdünnung der Luft durch Wärme …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • rarefaction — c.1600, noun of action from L. rarefacere (see RAREFY (Cf. rarefy)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • raréfaction — (ra ré fa ksion) s. f. Terme de physique. Action de raréfier ; état de ce qui est raréfié. •   C est cette seule raréfaction du sang qui est cause du mouvement du coeur, DESC. Foetus, 2. •   À une très forte chaleur, la raréfaction de l air est… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • rarefaction — noun Etymology: French or Medieval Latin; French raréfaction, from Medieval Latin rarefaction , rarefactio, from Latin rarefacere to rarefy Date: 1572 1. the action or process of rarefying 2. the quality or state of being rarefied 3. a state or… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • RARÉFACTION — s. f. T. didactique. Action de raréfier ; État de ce qui est raréfié. Il est opposé à Condensation. Cela se fait par la raréfaction. La raréfaction de l air …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • rarefaction — rarefactional, adj. rarefactive /rair euh fak tiv/, adj. /rair euh fak sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of rarefying. 2. the state of being rarefied. [1595 1605; < ML rarefaction (s. of rarefactio), equiv. to L rarefact(us) (ptp. of rarefacere;… …   Universalium

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