Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lyophilization

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.33 in modern English

Syllables: lyophiliza-tion
IPA

31

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Synonym of freeze-drying.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"After dialysis, the enzyme can be obtained as a dry powder by lyophilization. Lyophilization The process of vacuum-drying substances from the frozen state. The water is sublimated into a trap at low temperature or is absorbed by drying agents. Verb: lyophilize."

Etymology

First use appears c. 1894 in the US. lyo- + philos + -ization (alternatively analyzed as lyophilize + -ation), from Ancient Greek λύω (lúō, “to loosen, to dissolve”) + φίλος (phílos, “beloved”) + -ίζειν (-ízein) + Latin -ātiō, due to the dried product being able to rapidly reabsorb the solvent and restore the original substance, hence “lyophil” (solvent-loving). Popularized from 1960 by Louis R. Rey. Cognates exist in other European languages by means of the same construction.

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Prefix: lyo
Root: λύω, -ātiō
Suffix: philos, lyophilize

Usage

Inflected Forms

lyophilizations (plural) lyophilisation (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

lyophilic lyophilize lyophilized

Synonyms

freeze-drying lyophilisation

Questions

What does lyophilization mean?: Synonym of freeze-drying.
Where does lyophilization come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce lyophilization

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