Nouns denoting natural proesses
- ablactation
- the cessation of lactation
- ablation
- the erosive process that reduces the size of glaciers
- abrasion
- erosion by friction
- abscission
- shedding of flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plant
- absorption
- (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium
- absorption
- the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion
- absorption
- the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another
- absorption
- (chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
- accession
- a process of increasing by addition (as to a collection or group)
- acclimation
- adaptation to a new climate (a new temperature or altitude or environment)
- accouchement
- the parturition process in human beings; having a baby; the process of giving birth to a child
- accretion
- (geology) an increase in land resulting from alluvial deposits or waterborne sediment
- accretion
- (biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles
- accretion
- (astronomy) the formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases
- accretion
- an increase by natural growth or addition
- acetylation
- the process of introducing an acetyl group into a compound
- Acheson process
- an industrial process for making graphite by heating a mixture of coke and clay
- acid-base balance
- (physiology) the normal equilibrium between acids and alkalis in the body
- acidification
- the process of becoming acid or being converted into an acid
- action
- a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
- activation
- stimulation of activity in an organism or chemical
- active birth
- childbirth during which the mother is encouraged to be an active participant
- active transport
- transport of a substance (as a protein or drug) across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient; requires an expenditure of energy
- activity
- an organic process that takes place in the body
- acylation
- the process of introducing an acyl group into a compound
- adaptation
- the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions)
- addition reaction
- a chemical reaction in which one molecule is added to another
- adiabatic process
- (thermodynamics) any process that occurs without gain or loss of heat
- administrative data processing
- data processing in accounting or business management
- ADP
- data processing by a computer
- adsorption
- the accumulation of molecules of a gas to form a thin film on the surface of a solid
- advection
- (meteorology) the horizontal transfer of heat or other atmospheric properties
- aeration
- the process of exposing to air (so as to purify)
- agamogenesis
- reproduction without the fusion of gametes
- ageing
- acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time
- ageing
- the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age
- agenesia
- imperfect development; nondevelopment of a part
- agglutinating activity
- the coalescing of small particles that are suspended in solution; these larger masses are then (usually) precipitated
- agglutination
- the building of words from component morphemes that retain their form and meaning in the process of combining
- agglutination
- a clumping of bacteria or red cells when held together by antibodies (agglutinins)
- aldol reaction
- a reaction of aldehydes resulting in an aldol
- alluvion
- gradual formation of new land, by recession of the sea or deposit of sediment
- alpha decay
- radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of an alpha particle
- alternative birth
- a method of childbirth that avoids intrusive high-tech medicine in favor of more natural and homely settings
- amelogenesis
- the developmental process of forming tooth enamel
- Americanization
- assimilation into American culture
- amitosis
- the direct method of cell division characterized by simple division of the nucleus without formation of chromosomes
- ammonification
- impregnation with ammonia or a compound of ammonia
- amphimixis
- reproduction involving the union or fusion of a male and a female gamete
- amylolysis
- conversion of starch to sugar
- anabolism
- the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy
- anaglyphy
- the process of producing pictures in contrasting colors that appear three-dimensional when superimposed and viewed through spectacles with one red and one green lens
- anamorphism
- metamorphism that occurs deep under the earth's surface; changes simple minerals into complex minerals
- anamorphism
- the evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes
- anaphase
- the stage of meiosis or mitosis when chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle
- anastalsis
- muscular action of the alimentary tract in a direction opposite to peristalsis
- androgenesis
- male parthenogenesis in which the embryo contains only paternal chromosomes due to the failure of the egg nucleus to participate in fertilization
- angiogenesis
- the formation of new blood vessels
- Anglicization
- the act of anglicizing; making English in appearance
- anisogamy
- (biology) reproduction by the union or fusion of two differing gametes (especially differing in size)
- anovulation
- the absence of ovulation due to immaturity or post-maturity or pregnancy or oral contraceptive pills or dysfunction of the ovary
- anthesis
- the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms
- anthropogenesis
- the evolution or genesis of the human race
- antiredeposition
- the process of preventing redeposition
- antisepsis
- the process of inhibiting the growth and multiplication of microorganisms
- aphaeresis
- (linguistics) omission at the beginning of a word as in `coon' for `raccoon' or `till' for `until'
- aphesis
- the gradual disappearance of an initial (usually unstressed) vowel or syllable as in `squire' for `esquire'
- apogamy
- (botany) development of an embryo without fertilization; especially the development in some ferns of a sporophyte from the gametophyte without fertilization
- apomixis
- any of several kinds of reproduction without fertilization
- apposition
- (biology) growth in the thickness of a cell wall by the deposit of successive layers of material
- assibilation
- the development of a consonant phoneme into a sibilant
- assimilation
- a linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound
- association
- (chemistry) any process of combination (especially in solution) that depends on relatively weak chemical bonding
- asynchronous operation
- operations that occur without a regular or predictable time relation to other events
- attack
- the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent)
- autocatalysis
- catalysis in which the catalyst is one of the products of the reaction
- autolysis
- lysis of plant or animal tissue by an internal process
- autoradiography
- producing a radiograph by means of the radiation emitted from the specimen being photographed
- autoregulation
- (physiology) processes that maintain a generally constant physiological state in a cell or organism
- autotype
- process for producing permanent prints in a carbon pigment
- auxesis
- growth from increase in cell size without cell division
- auxiliary operation
- a operation performed by off-line equipment not under the control of the central processing unit
- background processing
- the execution of low priority programs while higher priority programs are not using the processing system
- backup
- an accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage
- bacteriolysis
- dissolution or destruction of bacteria
- bacteriostasis
- inhibition of the growth of bacteria
- basal metabolism
- the amount of energy required to maintain the body of an individual in a resting state
- batch processing
- the serial execution of computer programs
- beach erosion
- the erosion of beaches
- bed-wetting
- enuresis during sleep; especially common in children (who usually outgrow it)
- beneficiation
- crushing and separating ore into valuable substances or waste by any of a variety of techniques
- Bessemer process
- an industrial process for making steel using a Bessemer converter to blast air through molten iron and thus burning the excess carbon and impurities; the first successful method of making steel in quantity at low cost
- beta decay
- radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle
- binary arithmetic operation
- an operation that follows the rules of Boolean algebra; each operand and the result take one of two values
- biochemical mechanism
- a chemical mechanism involved in vital processes occurring in living organisms
- biogenesis
- production of a chemical compound by a living organism
- biological process
- a process occurring in living organisms
- birth
- the process of giving birth
- blastogenesis
- asexual reproduction by budding
- blaze
- a strong flame that burns brightly
- blistering
- the formation of vesicles in or beneath the skin
- blood clotting
- a process in which liquid blood is changed into a semisolid mass (a blood clot)
- bloom
- the organic process of bearing flowers
- blowing
- processing that involves blowing a gas
- blueing
- a process that makes something blue (or bluish)
- bm
- a euphemism for defecation
- BMR
- the rate at which heat is produced by an individual in a resting state
- boiling
- the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas
- bottom fermentation
- a slow kind of alcoholic fermentation at a temperature low enough that the yeast cells can sink to the bottom of the fermenting liquid; used in the production of lager
- Bradley method of childbirth
- a method that prepares a mother for natural childbirth by providing education and exercises and nutrition and techniques of breathing and relaxation (with the assistance of the father)
- breakdown
- (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
- broadening
- an increase in width
- brooding
- sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
- budding
- reproduction of some unicellular organisms (such as yeasts) by growth and specialization followed by the separation by constriction of a part of the parent
- buildup
- the result of the process of accumulation
- burning
- a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light
- caenogenesis
- introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (such as the addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution)
- calcification
- a process that impregnates something with calcium (or calcium salts)
- calcination
- the conversion of metals into their oxides as a result of heating to a high temperature
- calving
- giving birth to a calf
- capture
- any process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle
- capture
- a process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its gravitational field
- carbon cycle
- a thermonuclear reaction in the interior of stars
- carbon cycle
- the organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again
- carbonation
- saturation with carbon dioxide (as soda water)
- carbonisation
- the destructive distillation of coal (as in coke ovens)
- caries
- soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth
- carriage return
- the operation that prepares for the next character to be printed or displayed as the first character on a line
- carrier electrophoresis
- electrophoresis carried out on filter paper
- catabiosis
- normal aging of cells
- catabolism
- breakdown in living organisms of more complex substances into simpler ones together with release of energy
- catalysis
- acceleration of a chemical reaction induced the presence of material that is chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction
- catamenia
- the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause
- cataphoresis
- the motion of charged particles in a colloid under the influence of an electric field; particles with a positive charge go to the cathode and negative to the anode
- cell division
- the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells
- centrifugation
- the process of separating substances of different densities by the use of a centrifuge
- chain reaction
- a series of chemical reactions in which the product of one is a reactant in the next
- chain reaction
- a self-sustaining nuclear reaction; a series of nuclear fissions in which neutrons released by splitting one atom leads to the splitting of others
- chelation
- the process of forming a ring by forming one or more hydrogen bonds
- chelation
- (medicine) the process of removing a heavy metal from the bloodstream by means of a chelate as in treating lead or mercury poisoning
- chemical action
- (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved
- chemical decomposition reaction
- (chemistry) separation of a substance into two or more substances that may differ from each other and from the original substance
- chemical equilibrium
- a chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates
- chemical mechanism
- the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
- chemical reaction
- (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
- chemisorption
- adsorption (especially when irreversible) by means of chemical instead of physical forces
- chemosynthesis
- synthesis of carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water; limited to certain bacteria and fungi
- chilling
- the process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature
- chlorination
- the addition or substitution of chlorine in organic compounds
- chromatography
- a process used for separating mixtures by virtue of differences in absorbency
- civilisation
- the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organization
- cleavage
- the breaking of a chemical bond in a molecule resulting in smaller molecules
- cleavage
- (embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum
- climate change
- a change in the world's climate
- clotting
- the process of forming semisolid lumps in a liquid
- clouding
- the process whereby water particles become visible in the sky
- cohesion
- (botany) the process in some plants of parts growing together that are usually separate (such as petals)
- cold fusion
- nuclear fusion at or near room temperatures; claims to have discovered it are generally considered to have been mistaken
- column chromatography
- chromatography that uses selective adsorption by a column of powders
- compensation
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors
- computer operation
- an elementary operation that a computer is designed and built to perform
- concretion
- the formation of stonelike objects within a body organ (e.g., the kidneys)
- concurrent execution
- the execution of two or more computer programs by a single computer
- concurrent operation
- two or more operations performed at the same time (or within a give interval)
- condensation
- the process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state
- congealment
- the process of congealing; solidification by (or as if by) freezing
- conglutination
- healing process involving the growing together of the edges of a wound or the growing together of broken bones
- consecutive operation
- the sequential execution of operations one after another
- conspicuous consumption
- buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth
- consumption
- (economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing
- control function
- an operation that controls the recording or processing or transmission of interpretation of data
- convalescence
- gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
- convection
- the transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by molecular motion
- convection
- (meteorology) the vertical movement of heat or other properties by massive motion within the atmosphere
- conversion
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism represses emotional conflicts which are then converted into physical symptoms that have no organic basis
- corroding
- erosion by chemical action
- corruption
- decay of matter (as by rot or oxidation)
- cost-pull inflation
- inflation caused by an increase in the costs of production
- cracking
- the process whereby heavy molecules of naphtha or petroleum are broken down into hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight (especially in the oil-refining process)
- crossing over
- the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis
- cultivation
- the process of fostering the growth of something
- curing
- the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization
- cyanide process
- an industrial process for extracting gold and silver by treating ore with a sodium cyanide solution
- cytogenesis
- the origin and development and variation of cells
- cytokinesis
- organic process consisting of the division of the cytoplasm of a cell following karyokinesis bringing about the separation into two daughter cells
- cytolysis
- pathological breakdown of cells by the destruction of their outer membrane
- data mining
- data processing using sophisticated data search capabilities and statistical algorithms to discover patterns and correlations in large preexisting databases; a way to discover new meaning in data
- data processing
- (computer science) a series of operations on data by a computer in order to retrieve or transform or classify information
- de-iodination
- the removal of iodine atoms from organic compounds
- de-Nazification
- social process of removing Nazis from official positions and giving up any allegiance to Nazism
- de-Stalinization
- social process of neutralizing the influence of Joseph Stalin by revising his policies and removing monuments dedicated to him and renaming places named in his honor
- dealignment
- a process whereby voters are moved toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties
- deamination
- removal of the amino radical from an amino acid or other amino compound
- decalcification
- loss of calcium from bones or teeth
- decarboxylation
- the process of removing a carboxyl group from a chemical compound (usually replacing it with hydrogen)
- decay
- the process of gradually becoming inferior
- decay
- a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
- decay
- the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance along with the emission of ionizing radiation
- decentalisation
- the social process in which population and industry moves from urban centers to outlying districts
- declension
- process of changing to an inferior state
- decline
- change toward something smaller or lower
- decoction
- (pharmacology) the extraction of water-soluble drug substances by boiling
- decoction mashing
- (brewing) a process in which part of the mash is removed and boiled and then returned
- decrease
- a process of becoming smaller or shorter
- dedifferentiation
- the loss of specialization in form or function
- deepening
- a process of becoming deeper and more profound
- defecation
- the elimination of fecal waste through the anus
- defence
- (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
- defining
- any process serving to define the shape of something
- deflagration
- combustion that propagates through a gas or along the surface of an explosive at a rapid rate driven by the transfer of heat
- deflation
- a contraction of economic activity resulting in a decline of prices
- deflation
- (geology) the erosion of soil as a consequence of sand and dust and loose rocks being removed by the wind
- deflationary spiral
- an episode of deflation in which prices and wages decrease at an increasing rate and currency gains in value
- defoliation
- the loss of foliage
- degaussing
- the process of making a (steel) ship's hull nonmagnetic by producing an opposing magnetic field
- degeneration
- the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality
- dehydration
- the process of extracting moisture
- deletion
- any process whereby sounds or words are left out of spoken words or phrases
- demagnetisation
- the process of removing magnetization
- demand
- the ability and desire to purchase goods and services
- demand-pull inflation
- inflation caused by an increase in demand or in the supply of money
- demineralisation
- the removal of minerals and mineral salts from a liquid (especially from water)
- denial
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
- dentition
- the eruption through the gums of baby teeth
- deossification
- the loss of the mineral content of bone tissue
- deposit
- the natural process of laying down a deposit of something
- derivation
- (descriptive linguistics) the process whereby new words are formed from existing words or bases by affixation
- desalination
- the removal of salt (especially from sea water)
- desensitisation
- the process of reducing sensitivity
- desertification
- the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert; is usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land
- desorption
- changing from an adsorbed state on a surface to a gaseous or liquid state
- destructive distillation
- heating a solid substance in a closed container and collecting the volatile products
- detumescence
- diminution of swelling; the subsidence of anything swollen
- developing
- processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible
- development
- a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)
- development
- (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
- diakinesis
- the final stage of the prophase of meiosis
- diaphoresis
- the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid
- diastrophism
- the process of deformation that produces continents and ocean basins in the earth's crust
- differentiation
- (biology) the structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function
- diffusion
- (physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration
- digestion
- the organic process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed into the body
- digestion
- the process of decomposing organic matter (as in sewage) by bacteria or by chemical action or heat
- digital photography
- a photographic method that stores the image digitally for later reproduction
- dilapidation
- the process of becoming dilapidated
- diplotene
- the fourth stage of the prophase of meiosis
- discharge
- any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body
- disinflation
- a reduction of prices intended to improve the balance of payments
- disintegration
- separation into component parts
- displacement
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one
- displacement
- (chemistry) a reaction in which an elementary substance displaces and sets free a constituent element from a compound
- dissimilation
- a linguistic process by which one of two similar sounds in a word becomes less like the other
- dissociation
- (chemistry) the temporary or reversible process in which a molecule or ion is broken down into smaller molecules or ions
- dissolution
- the process of going into solution
- distillation
- the process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors
- distributed data processing
- data processing in which some of the functions are performed in different places and connected by transmission facilities
- dithering
- the process of representing intermediate colors by patterns of tiny colored dots that simulate the desired color
- domestication
- adaptation to intimate association with human beings
- double decomposition
- a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB)
- double replacement reaction
- a chemical reaction between two compounds where the positive ion of one compound is exchanged with the positive ion of another compound
- doubling
- increase by a factor of two
- drift
- the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane)
- drift
- a process of linguistic change over a period of time
- drop-off
- a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
- dry plate
- a former photographic method that used a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive gelatinous emulsion
- dump
- a coarse term for defecation
- dyadic operation
- an operation on exactly two operands
- eating away
- (geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
- ebb
- a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
- eburnation
- a change that occurs in degenerative joint disease in which bone is converted into a dense smooth substance resembling ivory
- ecchymosis
- the escape of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the surrounding tissue to form a purple or black-and-blue spot on the skin
- ecdysis
- periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
- ecesis
- (ecology) the process by which a plant or animal becomes established in a new habitat
- eclipsis
- omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences
- ecological succession
- (ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
- economic growth
- steady growth in the productive capacity of the economy (and so a growth of national income)
- economic process
- any process affecting the production and development and management of material wealth
- EDP
- automatic data processing by electronic means without the use of tabulating cards or punched tapes
- effacement
- shortening of the uterine cervix and thinning of its walls as it is dilated during labor
- effervescence
- the process of bubbling as gas escapes
- effluence
- the process of flowing out
- egg laying
- the production of eggs (especially in birds)
- ejaculation
- the discharge of semen in males
- electrodeposition
- the deposition of a substance on an electrode by the action of electricity (especially by electrolysis)
- electrolysis
- (chemistry) a chemical decomposition reaction produced by passing an electric current through a solution containing ions
- electrostatic precipitation
- a process that removes suspended dust particles from a gas by applying a high voltage electrostatic charge to the particles and collecting them on charged plates
- elimination reaction
- a chemical reaction in which a molecule decomposes to two different molecules
- elimination
- the bodily process of discharging waste matter
- elision
- omission of a sound between two words (usually a vowel and the end of one word or the beginning of the next)
- elution
- the process of extracting one material from another by washing with a solvent to remove adsorbed material from an adsorbent (as in washing of loaded ion-exchange resins to remove captured ions); used to obtain uranium ions
- emergent evolution
- the appearance of entirely new properties at certain critical stages in the course of evolution
- emission
- the release of electrons from parent atoms
- encapsulation
- the process of enclosing (as in a capsule)
- encrustation
- the formation of a crust
- endoergic reaction
- a nuclear reaction occurring with absorption of energy
- endothermic reaction
- a chemical reaction accompanied by the absorption of heat
- enuresis
- inability to control the flow of urine and involuntary urination
- epigenesis
- a geological change in the mineral content of rock after the rock has formed
- epilation
- loss of hair; the result of removing hair
- epistasis
- the suppression of a gene by the effect of an unrelated gene
- epitaxy
- growing a crystal layer of one mineral on the crystal base of another mineral in such a manner that its crystalline orientation is the same as that of the substrate
- eponymy
- the derivation of a general name from that of a famous person
- erosion
- a gradual decline of something
- erythropoiesis
- the process of producing red blood cells by the stem cells in the bone marrow
- Europeanization
- assimilation into European culture
- eutrophication
- excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life; the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life
- evaporation
- the process of becoming a vapor
- evolution
- (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms
- execution
- (computer science) the process of carrying out an instruction by a computer
- exoergic reaction
- a nuclear reaction accompanied by the evolution of energy
- exothermic reaction
- a chemical reaction accompanied by the evolution of heat
- expectoration
- the process of coughing up and spitting out
- exponential decay
- a decrease that follows an exponential function
- expression
- (genetics) the process of expressing a gene
- extinction
- the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation
- extraction
- the process of obtaining something from a mixture or compound by chemical or physical or mechanical means
- extravasation
- the process of exuding or passing out of a vessel into surrounding tissues; said of blood or lymph or urine
- farrow
- the production of a litter of pigs
- fat metabolism
- a metabolic process that breaks down ingested fats into fatty acids and glycerol and then into simpler compounds that can be used by cells of the body
- feedback
- the process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output
- feminisation
- the process of becoming feminized; the development of female characteristics (loss of facial hair or breast enlargement) in a male because of hormonal disorders or castration
- ferment
- a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol
- festering
- (medicine) the formation of morbific matter in an abscess or a vesicle and the discharge of pus
- fibrinolysis
- a normal ongoing process that dissolves fibrin and results in the removal of small blood clots
- field emission
- the emission of electrons that are stripped from parent atoms by a high electric field
- filling
- flow into something (as a container)
- filtration
- the process whereby fluids pass through a filter or a filtering medium
- fire
- the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
- fission
- reproduction of some unicellular organisms by division of the cell into two more or less equal parts
- fission
- a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy
- fissiparity
- reproduction of some multicellular organisms by division, as in the case of some starfish
- fixed-cycle operation
- an operation that is completed in a specified number of regularly timed execution cycles
- flare
- a sudden burst of flame
- floating-point operation
- an arithmetic operation performed on floating-point numbers
- flocculation
- the process of flocculating; forming woolly cloudlike aggregations
- flow
- any uninterrupted stream or discharge
- flowage
- gradual internal motion or deformation of a solid body (as by heat)
- flowering
- a developmental process
- focalisation
- the confinement of an infection to a limited area
- fold
- a geological process that causes a bend in a stratum of rock
- folding
- the process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape
- foliation
- (geology) the arrangement of leaflike layers in a rock
- foliation
- (botany) the process of forming leaves
- foreground processing
- the execution of a program that preempts the use of the processing system
- formation
- natural process that causes something to form
- fossilisation
- the process of fossilizing a plant or animal that existed in some earlier age; the process of being turned to stone
- fractional distillation
- fractionation of a liquid by distillation
- fractional process
- a process that uses heat to separate a substance into its components
- fragmentation
- (computer science) the condition of a file that is broken up and stored in many different locations on a magnetic disk
- freeze
- the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
- freeze-drying
- a method of drying food or blood plasma or pharmaceuticals or tissue without destroying their physical structure; material is frozen and then warmed in a vacuum so that the ice sublimes
- frost
- the formation of frost or ice on a surface
- fructification
- the bearing of fruit
- functioning
- process or manner of functioning or operating
- fusion
- the merging of adjacent sounds or syllables or words
- fusion
- a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy
- galactosis
- the secretion of milk
- galvanisation
- stimulation with a galvanic current
- gametogenesis
- the development and maturation of sex cells through meiosis
- gasification
- the process of changing into gas
- gassing
- the process of interacting with gas
- gastric digestion
- the process of breaking down proteins by the action of the gastric juice in the stomach
- gastrulation
- the process in which a gastrula develops from a blastula by the inward migration of cells
- gemmation
- asexual reproduction in which a local growth on the surface or in the body of the parent becomes a separate individual
- geologic process
- (geology) a natural process whereby geological features are modified
- germination
- the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow
- glaciation
- the process of covering the earth with glaciers or masses of ice
- global warming
- an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)
- globalisation
- growth to a global or worldwide scale
- glycogenesis
- the formation in animals of glycogen from glucose
- glycolysis
- a metabolic process that breaks down carbohydrates and sugars through a series of reactions to either pyruvic acid or lactic acid and releases energy for the body in the form of ATP
- growing
- (electronics) the production of (semiconductor) crystals by slow crystallization from the molten state
- growth
- a progression from simpler to more complex forms
- growth
- a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important
- gynogenesis
- female parthenogenesis in which the embryo contains only maternal chromosomes due to the failure of the sperm to fuse with the egg nucleus
- Haber-Bosch process
- an industrial process for producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen by combining them under high pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst
- habit
- the general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal)
- haemagglutination
- agglutination of red blood cells
- haematochezia
- passage of stools containing blood (as from diverticulosis or colon cancer or peptic ulcer)
- haematogenesis
- the formation of blood cells in the living body (especially in the bone marrow)
- haematolysis
- lysis of erythrocytes with the release of hemoglobin
- hatch
- the production of young from an egg
- healing
- the natural process by which the body repairs itself
- heat dissipation
- dissipation of heat
- heating
- the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature
- hemimetabolism
- incomplete or partial metamorphosis in insects
- heredity
- the biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next
- heterometabolism
- development of insects with incomplete metamorphosis in which no pupal stage precedes maturity
- heterospory
- the development of both microspores and megaspores
- holometabolism
- complete metamorphosis in insects
- homospory
- the development of a single kind of asexual spores
- human process
- a process in which human beings are involved
- humification
- the process of the formation of humus from plant remains
- hydration
- the process of combining with water; usually reversible
- hydrocracking
- the process whereby hydrocarbon molecules of petroleum are broken down into kerosene and gasolene by the addition of hydrogen under high pressure in the presence of a catalyst
- hydrogenation
- a chemical process that adds hydrogen atoms to an unsaturated oil
- hydrolysis
- a chemical reaction in which water reacts with a compound to produce other compounds; involves the splitting of a bond and the addition of the hydrogen cation and the hydroxide anion from the water
- hyperhidrosis
- excessive and profuse perspiration
- hypermenorrhea
- abnormally heavy or prolonged menstruation; can be a symptom of uterine tumors and can lead to anemia if prolonged
- hypersecretion
- excessive secretion
- hypostasis
- the accumulation of blood in an organ
- idealisation
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad
- IDP
- automatic data processing in which data acquisition and other stages or processing are integrated into a coherent system
- ignition
- the process of initiating combustion or catching fire
- imbibition
- (chemistry) the absorption of a liquid by a solid or gel
- immunoelectrophoresis
- electrophoresis to separate antigens and antibodies
- implantation
- (embryology) the organic process whereby a fertilized egg becomes implanted in the lining of the uterus of placental mammals
- impregnation
- the process of totally saturating something with a substance
- inactivation
- the process of rendering inactive
- incontinence
- involuntary urination or defecation
- indentation
- the formation of small pits in a surface as a consequence of corrosion
- induction heating
- the heating of a conducting material caused by an electric current induced in it
- industrial process
- a systematic series of mechanical or chemical operations that produce or manufacture something
- indweller
- activation by an inner spirit or force or principle
- infection
- (medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease
- infection
- (phonetics) the alteration of a speech sound under the influence of a neighboring sound
- infiltration
- the slow passage of a liquid through a filtering medium
- inflation
- a general and progressive increase in prices
- inflationary spiral
- an episode of inflation in which prices and wages increase at an increasing rate and currency rapidly loses value
- inflow
- the process of flowing in
- infolding
- the folding in of an outer layer so as to form a pocket in the surface
- infrigidation
- the process of cooling or freezing (e.g., food) for preservative purposes
- infructescence
- the fruiting stage of the inflorescence
- infusion
- the process of extracting certain active properties (as a drug from a plant) by steeping or soaking (usually in water)
- inhibition
- (physiology) the process whereby nerves can retard or prevent the functioning of an organ or part
- inpour
- an inflow
- inspissation
- the process of thickening by dehydration
- insufflation
- (medicine) blowing air or medicated powder into the lungs (or into some other body cavity)
- intellectualisation
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict
- internal combustion
- the combustion of fuel inside a cylinder (as in an internal-combustion engine)
- intrusion
- the forcing of molten rock into fissures or between strata of an earlier rock formation
- intumescence
- the increase in volume of certain substances when they are heated (often accompanied by release of water)
- intussusception
- (biology) growth in the surface area of a cell by the deposit of new particles between existing particles in the cell wall
- inversion
- a chemical process in which the direction of optical rotation of a substance is reversed from dextrorotatory to levorotary or vice versa
- involution
- reduction in size of an organ or part (as in the return of the uterus to normal size after childbirth)
- iodination
- the substitution or addition of iodine atoms in organic compounds
- ion exchange
- a process in which ions are exchanged between a solution and an insoluble (usually resinous) solid; widely used in industrial processing
- ionisation
- the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas
- irreversible process
- any process that is not reversible
- irruption
- a sudden sharp increase in the relative numbers of a population
- isoagglutination
- agglutination of an agglutinogen of one individual by a serum from another individual of the same species
- isogamy
- (biology) reproduction by the union or fusion of gametes of the same size and structure
- isolation
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it
- iteration
- (computer science) a single execution of a set of instructions that are to be repeated
- iteration
- (computer science) executing the same set of instructions a given number of times or until a specified result is obtained
- juvenescence
- the process of growing into a youth
- karyokinesis
- organic process consisting of the division of the nucleus of a cell during mitosis or meiosis
- karyolysis
- disintegration and dissolution of a cell nucleus when a cell dies
- katamorphism
- metamorphism that occurs at or near the earth's surface; breaks down complex minerals into simpler ones
- keratinisation
- organic process by which keratin is deposited in cells and the cells become horny (as in nails and hair)
- Krebs citric acid cycle
- in all plants and animals: a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy
- lachrymation
- shedding tears
- lactation
- the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands
- Lamaze method of childbirth
- a method that prepares a mother for natural childbirth; the pregnant woman (in classes and at home) practices (usually with the help of a coach) and learns about the physiology of childbirth and techniques of relaxation, concentration, and breathing
- leach
- the process of leaching
- leak
- a euphemism for urination
- Leboyer method of childbirth
- a method of childbirth that tries to minimize the trauma for the newborn; delivery occurs in a quiet dimly lit room and the infant's head is not pulled and immediate bonding between mother and child is encouraged
- leeway
- (of a ship or plane) sideways drift
- leptotene
- the first stage of the prophase of meiosis
- lexicalisation
- the process of making a word to express a concept
- libration
- (astronomy) a real or apparent slow oscillation of a moon or satellite
- life cycle
- the course of developmental changes in an organism from fertilized zygote to maturity when another zygote can be produced
- light reaction
- the first stage of photosynthesis during which energy from light is used for the production of ATP
- line feed
- the operation that prepares for the next character to be printed or displayed on the next line
- linguistic process
- a process involved in human language
- liquefaction
- the conversion of a solid or a gas into a liquid
- list processing
- processing data that is given in the form of chained lists
- lithuresis
- passing small stones with the urine
- logic operation
- an operation that follows the rules of symbolic logic
- lookup
- an operation that determines whether one or more of a set of items has a specified property
- loss
- gradual decline in amount or activity
- lymphopoiesis
- the formation of lymphocytes in the bone marrow and lymph nodes and thymus and spleen
- lysis
- (biochemistry) dissolution or destruction of cells such as blood cells or bacteria
- lysis
- recuperation in which the symptoms of an acute disease gradually subside
- lysogenisation
- the process by which a bacterium acquires a phage that becomes integrated into its genome
- maceration
- softening due to soaking or steeping
- macroevolution
- evolution on a large scale extending over geologic era and resulting in the formation of new taxonomic groups
- magnetic induction
- the process that makes a substance magnetic (temporarily or permanently)
- majority operation
- a threshold operation in which each operand is 0 or 1; output is 1 if and only if more than half the operands have the value 1
- malabsorption
- abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract
- marginalisation
- the social process of becoming or being made marginal (especially as a group within the larger society)
- market forces
- the interaction of supply and demand that shapes a market economy
- Markoff chain
- a Markov process for which the parameter is discrete time values
- Markoff process
- a simple stochastic process in which the distribution of future states depends only on the present state and not on how it arrived in the present state
- masculinisation
- the abnormal development of male sexual characteristics in a female (usually as the result of hormone therapies or adrenal malfunction)
- materialisation
- the process of coming into being; becoming reality
- maturation
- coming to full development; becoming mature
- meiosis
- (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)
- melioration
- the linguistic process in which over a period of time a word grows more positive in connotation or more elevated in meaning
- mellowing
- the process of becoming mellow
- melt
- the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
- meltdown
- severe overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core melting and radiation escaping
- metabolic process
- the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life
- metabolism
- the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals
- metamorphism
- change in the structure of rock by natural agencies such as pressure or heat or introduction of new chemical substances
- metaphase
- the second stage of mitosis
- metaphase
- the second stage of meiosis
- metastasis
- the spreading of a disease (especially cancer) to another part of the body
- metathesis
- a linguistic process of transposition of sounds or syllables within a word or words within a sentence
- microevolution
- evolution resulting from small specific genetic changes that can lead to a new subspecies
- microphoning
- the transduction of sound waves into electrical waves (by a microphone)
- micturition
- the discharge of urine
- mildew
- the process of becoming mildewed
- mitosis
- cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes
- monadic operation
- an operation with exactly one operand
- monogenesis
- asexual reproduction by the production and release of spores
- morphallaxis
- regeneration on a reduced scale of a body part; observed especially in invertebrates such as certain lobsters
- morphogenesis
- differentiation and growth of the structure of an organism (or a part of an organism)
- multiplex operation
- an operation in which two or more activities are interleaved
- multiplication
- a multiplicative increase
- multiprocessing
- simultaneous processing by two or more processing units
- myelinisation
- the development of a myelin sheath around a nerve fiber
- narrowing
- a decrease in width
- natural childbirth
- labor and childbirth without medical intervention; no drugs are given to relieve pain or aid the birth process
- natural selection
- a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
- Nazification
- social process of adopting (or being forced to adopt) Nazism
- necrolysis
- disintegration and dissolution of dead tissue
- negative feedback
- feedback in opposite phase with (decreasing) the input
- neoplasia
- the pathological process that results in the formation and growth of a tumor
- neurogenesis
- the development of nerve tissues
- neutralisation
- a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water
- new line
- the operation that prepares for the next character to be printed or displayed as the first character on the next line
- nitrification
- the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants)
- nitrification
- the chemical process in which a nitro group is added to an organic compound (or substituted for another group in an organic compound)
- nitrogen cycle
- the circulation of nitrogen; nitrates from the soil are absorbed by plants which are eaten by animals that die and decay returning the nitrogen back to the soil
- nitrogen fixation
- the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by soil bacteria and its release for plant use on the death of the bacteria
- nocturia
- excessive urination at night; especially common in older men
- nocturnal emission
- ejaculation during sleep (usually during a dream)
- nondevelopment
- failure of normal development to occur
- nondisjunction
- meiosis in which there is a failure of paired homologous chromosomes to separate; results in an abnormal number of chromosomes in the daughter cells
- nosedive
- a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline
- nuclear reaction
- (physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei
- nucleosynthesis
- (astronomy) the cosmic synthesis of atoms more complex than the hydrogen atom
- nutrition
- (physiology) the organic process of nourishing or being nourished; the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance
- obsolescence
- the process of becoming obsolete; falling into disuse or becoming out of date
- oligomenorrhea
- abnormally light or infrequent menstruation
- oliguria
- production of an abnormally small amount of urine
- oogenesis
- development of ova
- opacification
- the process of becoming cloudy or opaque
- open-hearth process
- a process for making steel using an open-hearth furnace
- operation
- (computer science) data processing in which the result is completely specified by a rule (especially the processing that results from a single instruction)
- opsonisation
- process whereby opsonins make an invading microorganism more susceptible to phagocytosis
- organification
- the process of organ formation
- origin
- the source of something's existence or from which it derives or is derived
- orogeny
- the process of mountain formation (especially by the upward displacement of the earth's crust)
- oscillation
- the process of oscillating between states
- osmosis
- (biology, chemistry) diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal
- ossification
- the developmental process of bone formation
- ossification
- the process of becoming rigidly fixed in a conventional pattern of thought or behavior
- ossification
- the calcification of soft tissue into a bonelike material
- osteolysis
- lysis of bone caused by disease or infection or inadequate blood supply
- overactivity
- excessive activity
- overcompensation
- (psychiatry) an attempt to overcome a real or imagined defect or unwanted trait by overly exaggerating its opposite
- overflow incontinence
- urinary incontinence that occurs when the bladder is so full that it continually leaks urine; often attributable to a blocked urethra (e.g., due to prostate enlargement) or weak bladder muscles or nerve damage
- overheating
- excessive heating
- ovulation
- the expulsion of an ovum from the ovary (usually midway in the menstrual cycle)
- oxidation
- the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction
- oxidation-reduction
- a reversible chemical reaction in which one reaction is an oxidation and the reverse is a reduction
- oxidative phosphorylation
- an enzymatic process in cell metabolism that synthesizes ATP from ADP
- oxygenation
- the process of providing or combining or treating with oxygen
- pachytene
- the third stage of the prophase of meiosis
- pair creation
- the transformation of a gamma-ray photon into an electron and a positron when the photon passes close to an atomic nucleus
- palingenesis
- emergence during embryonic development of various characters or structures that appeared during the evolutionary history of the strain or species
- paper chromatography
- chromatography that uses selective adsorption on a strip of paper
- parallel operation
- the simultaneous execution of two or more operations
- parthenocarpy
- (botany) the development of a fruit without fertilization or seeds
- parthenogenesis
- process in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual; common among insects and some other arthropods
- parthenogenesis
- human conception without fertilization by a man
- passive transport
- transport of a substance across a cell membrane by diffusion; expenditure of energy is not required
- pathogenesis
- the origination and development of a disease
- pathologic process
- an organic process occurring as a consequence of disease
- peace process
- any social process undertaken by governments who want their citizens to believe they are trying to avoid armed hostilities
- pee
- informal terms for urination
- peptisation
- the process of converting to a sol; bringing to a colloidal solution
- perennation
- the process of living through a number of years (as a perennial plant)
- peristalsis
- the process of wavelike muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along
- permeation
- the process of permeating or infusing something with a substance
- petrifaction
- the process of turning some plant material into stone by infiltration with water carrying mineral particles without changing the original shape
- phagocytosis
- process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection
- phase change
- a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
- phase of cell division
- a stage in meiosis or mitosis
- photochemical reaction
- a chemical reaction produced by the action of light
- photoelectric emission
- the release or absorption of quanta above a certain energy level
- photography
- the process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces
- photomechanics
- the process whereby printing surfaces (plates or cylinders) are produced by photographic methods
- photosynthesis
- synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants)
- pigmentation
- the deposition of pigment in animals or plants or human beings
- pinocytosis
- process by which certain cells can engulf and incorporate droplets of fluid
- placentation
- the formation of the placenta in the uterus
- planation
- the process of erosion whereby a level surface is produced
- plastination
- a process involving fixation and dehydration and forced impregnation and hardening of biological tissues; water and lipids are replaced by curable polymers (silicone or epoxy or polyester) that are subsequently hardened
- polymerisation
- a chemical process that combines several monomers to form a polymer or polymeric compound
- population growth
- increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state
- positive feedback
- feedback in phase with (augmenting) the input
- potentiation
- (medicine) the synergistic effect of two drugs given simultaneously
- powder method
- a process for identifying minerals or crystals; a small rod is coated with a powdered form of the substance and subjected to suitably modified X-rays; the pattern of diffracted rings is used for identification
- precession of the equinoxes
- a slow westward shift of the equinoxes along the plane of the ecliptic caused by precession of the Earth's axis of rotation
- prechlorination
- chlorination prior to another chemical process
- precipitation
- the process of forming a chemical precipitate
- precocious dentition
- teething at an earlier age than expected
- premature ejaculation
- ejaculation during the early stages of sexual excitement or soon after the insertion of the penis into the vagina
- preservation
- a process that saves organic substances from decay
- printing operation
- an operation that controls the printing or display of information
- priority processing
- data processing in which the operations performed are determined by a system of priorities
- processing
- preparing or putting through a prescribed procedure
- professionalisation
- the social process whereby people come to engage in an activity for pay or as a means of livelihood
- projection
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else
- proliferation
- growth by the rapid multiplication of parts
- proliferation
- a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons)
- prophase
- the first stage of mitosis
- prophase
- the first stage of meiosis
- proteolysis
- the hydrolysis of proteins into peptides and amino acids by cleavage of their peptide bonds
- psilosis
- falling out of hair
- psychoanalytic process
- a process that is assumed to occur in psychoanalytic theory
- psychogenesis
- a general term for the origin and development of almost any aspect of the mind
- psychogenesis
- the development in the life of an individual of some disorder that is caused by psychological rather than physiological factors
- psychomotor development
- progressive acquisition of skills involving both mental and motor activities
- psychosexual development
- (psychoanalysis) the process during which personality and sexual behavior mature through a series of stages: first oral stage and then anal stage and then phallic stage and then latency stage and finally genital stage
- ptyalism
- excessive flow of saliva
- pullulation
- a rapid and abundant increase
- purification
- the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)
- pyrochemical process
- processes for chemical reactions at high temperatures
- quadrupling
- increase by a factor of four
- quellung
- the swelling of the capsule surrounding a microorganism after reaction with an antibody; the basis of certain tests for identifying microorganisms
- quickening
- the process of showing signs of life
- quintupling
- increasing by a factor of five
- radiant heating
- heating a building by radiation from panels containing hot water or electrical heaters
- radiation
- the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay
- radiography
- the process of making a radiograph; producing an image on a radiosensitive surface by radiation other than visible light
- radiolysis
- molecular disintegration resulting from radiation
- rain-wash
- the washing away of soil or other loose material by rain
- rally
- a marked recovery of strength or spirits during an illness
- random walk
- a stochastic process consisting of a sequence of changes each of whose characteristics (as magnitude or direction) is determined by chance
- rationalisation
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening
- reabsorption
- the organic process in which the substance of some differentiated structure that has been produced by the body undergoes lysis and assimilation
- reaction formation
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them
- Read method of childbirth
- a method of natural childbirth that assumes it is a normal process and that the pain is largely psychological; involves education and breathing exercises to foster relaxation and other exercises
- real-time operation
- data processing fast enough to keep up with an outside process
- rectification
- (chemistry) the process of refinement or purification of a substance by distillation
- redeposition
- deposition from one deposit to another
- reducing
- loss of excess weight (as by dieting); becoming slimmer
- reducing
- any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent
- refilling
- filling again by supplying what has been used up
- reflation
- inflation of currency after a period of deflation; restore the system to a previous state
- regeneration
- (biology) growth anew of lost tissue or destroyed parts or organs
- regression
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state
- regulation
- (embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered
- relaxation
- (physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers
- relaxation
- (physics) the exponential return of a system to equilibrium after a disturbance
- release
- a process that liberates or discharges something
- replication
- (genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division
- repression
- (psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious
- reproduction
- the process of generating offspring
- reticulation
- (photography) the formation of a network of cracks or wrinkles in a photographic emulsion
- retrieval
- (computer science) the operation of accessing information from the computer's memory
- reuptake
- a process of using up or consuming again
- reverse osmosis
- (chemistry) a method of producing pure water; a solvent passes through a semipermeable membrane in a direction opposite to that for natural osmosis when it is subjected to a hydrostatic pressure greater than the osmotic pressure
- reversible process
- any process in which a system can be made to pass through the same states in the reverse order when the process is reversed
- rigidification
- the process of becoming stiff or rigid
- rigor mortis
- muscular stiffening that begins 2 to 4 hours after death and lasts for about 4 days
- Riss glaciation
- the next-to-last Pleistocene glaciation in the Alps and the deposits laid down at that time
- rooting
- the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow
- rust
- the formation of reddish-brown ferric oxides on iron by low-temperature oxidation in the presence of water
- Saale glaciation
- the next-to-last Pleistocene glaciation in northern Europe and the deposits laid down at that time
- salivation
- the secretion of saliva
- saltation
- (geology) the leaping movement of sand or soil particles as they are transported in a fluid medium over an uneven surface
- saponification
- a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap)
- scanning
- the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer
- scattering
- the physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions
- schizogony
- asexual reproduction by multiple fission; characteristic of many sporozoan protozoans
- secernment
- the organic process of synthesizing and releasing some substance
- secondary emission
- the emission of electrons from a surface that is bombarded by higher energy primary electrons
- segregation
- (genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes
- sensitisation
- (psychology) the process of becoming highly sensitive to specific events or situations (especially emotional events or situations)
- sequestration
- the action of forming a chelate or other stable compound with an ion or atom or molecule so that it is no longer available for reactions
- serial processing
- sequential processing by two or more processing units
- sericulture
- raising silkworms in order to obtain raw silk
- shedding
- the process whereby something is shed
- sink
- (technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system
- sinking spell
- a temporary decline in health or value
- slippage
- a decrease of transmitted power in a mechanical system caused by slipping
- slippage
- decline from a standard level of performance or achievement
- smoke
- a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion
- soak
- the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
- social process
- a process involved in the formation of groups of persons
- softening
- the process of becoming softer
- soil erosion
- the washing away of soil by the flow of water
- solvation
- a chemical process in which solvent molecules and molecules or ions of the solute combine to form a compound
- Solvay process
- an industrial process for producing sodium carbonate from sodium chloride and ammonia and carbon dioxide
- sorption
- the process in which one substance takes up or holds another (by either absorption or adsorption)
- sort
- an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion
- source
- (technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system
- souring
- the process of becoming sour
- spallation
- (physics) a nuclear reaction in which a bombarded nucleus breaks up into many particles
- speciation
- the evolution of a biological species
- spermatogenesis
- development of spermatozoa
- spiral
- a continuously accelerating change in the economy
- spoilage
- the process of becoming spoiled
- spontaneous combustion
- ignition of a substance (as oily rags) resulting from an internal oxidation process
- stagflation
- a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment (stagnation) while prices rise (inflation)
- Stalinization
- social process of adopting (or being forced to adopt) the policies and practices of Joseph Stalin
- stationary stochastic process
- a stochastic process in which the distribution of the random variables is the same for any value of the variable parameter
- steel production
- making steel from pig iron
- stimulation
- (physiology) the effect of a stimulus (on nerves or organs etc.)
- stochastic process
- a statistical process involving a number of random variables depending on a variable parameter (which is usually time)
- storage
- (computer science) the process of storing information in a computer memory or on a magnetic tape or disk
- stovepiping
- retrieval of information from unconnected databases; the situation that exists when it is necessary to climb out of one database in order to climb down into another; sometimes used for protection against wandering hackers
- stratification
- forming or depositing in layers
- stress incontinence
- urinary incontinence that occurs when involuntary pressure is put on the bladder by coughing or laughing or sneezing or lifting or straining
- subduction
- a geological process in which one edge of a crustal plate is forced sideways and downward into the mantle below another plate
- summation
- (physiology) the process whereby multiple stimuli can produce a response (in a muscle or nerve or other part) that one stimulus alone does not produce
- superposition
- (geology) the deposition of one geological stratum on another
- supply
- offering goods and services for sale
- suppression
- the failure to develop some part or organ
- symphysis
- a growing together of parts or structures
- synaeresis
- the separation of liquid from a gel that is caused by contraction (as in cheese making)
- synaeresis
- the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong
- synapsis
- the side by side pairing of homologous maternal and paternal chromosomes at the start of meiosis
- synchronous operation
- operations that are initiated predictably by a clock
- syncretism
- the fusion of originally different inflected forms (resulting in a reduction in the use of inflections)
- synergism
- the working together of two things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects
- synezesis
- the contraction of chromatin towards one side of the nucleus during the prophase of meiosis
- synthesis
- the process of producing a chemical compound (usually by the union of simpler chemical compounds)
- tanning
- process in which skin pigmentation darkens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light
- telophase
- the final stage of mitosis
- telophase
- the final stage of meiosis when the chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle
- temperature change
- a process whereby the degree of hotness of a body (or medium) changes
- teratogenesis
- the development of defects in an embryo
- thermal emission
- the emission of electrons from very hot substances
- thermocoagulation
- congealing tissue by heat (as by electric current)
- thermonuclear reaction
- a nuclear fusion reaction taking place at very high temperatures (as in the sun)
- threshold operation
- an operation performed on operands in order to obtain the value of a threshold function
- thrombolysis
- the process of breaking up and dissolving blood clots
- top fermentation
- a violent kind of alcoholic fermentation at a temperature high enough to carry the yeast cells to the top of the fermenting liquid; used in the production of ale
- transamination
- the process of transfering an amino group from one compound to another
- transamination
- the process of transposing an amino group within a chemical compound
- transcription
- (genetics) the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA
- transduction
- the process whereby a transducer accepts energy in one form and gives back related energy in a different form
- transduction
- (genetics) the process of transfering genetic material from one cell to another by a plasmid or bacteriophage
- translation
- (genetics) the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm
- translocation
- (genetics) an exchange of chromosome parts
- translocation
- the transport of dissolved material within a plant
- transpiration
- the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
- transpiration
- the passage of gases through fine tubes because of differences in pressure or temperature
- transpiration
- the process of giving off or exhaling water vapor through the skin or mucous membranes
- transport
- an exchange of molecules (and their kinetic energy and momentum) across the boundary between adjacent layers of a fluid or across cell membranes
- tripling
- increase by a factor of three
- tumefaction
- the process of tumefying; the organic process whereby tissue becomes swollen by the accumulation of fluid within it
- ulceration
- the process of ulcer formation; the process of becoming ulcerated
- ultracentrifugation
- centrifugation at very high speeds
- underdevelopment
- (photography) inadequate processing of film resulting in inadequate contrast
- uptake
- a process of taking up or using up or consuming
- urbanisation
- the social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban
- urge incontinence
- urinary incontinence that is generally attributable to involuntary contracts of the bladder muscle resulting in an urgent need to urinate accompanied by a sudden loss of urine; most common in people over 60 years of age
- urochesia
- passage of urine from the anus
- variation
- the process of varying or being varied
- vascularisation
- the organic process whereby body tissue becomes vascular and develops capillaries
- vegetation
- the process of growth in plants
- vicious circle
- one trouble leads to another that aggravates the first
- video digitizing
- the process of capturing and converting and storing video images for use by a computer
- vinification
- the process whereby fermentation changes grape juice into wine
- vitrification
- the process of becoming vitreous
- vulcanisation
- process of treating rubber or rubberlike materials with sulphur at great heat to improve elasticity and strength or to harden them
- wash
- the erosive process of washing away soil or gravel by water (as from a roadway)
- wastage
- the process of wasting
- Westernization
- assimilation of Western culture; the social process of becoming familiar with or converting to the customs and practices of Western civilization
- Wolstonian glaciation
- the next-to-last Pleistocene glaciation in Britain and the deposits laid down at that time
- word processing
- rapid and efficient processing (storage and printing) of linguistic data for composition and editing
- zygotene
- the second stage of the prophase of meiosis
- zymosis
- (medicine) the development and spread of an infectious disease (especially one caused by a fungus)