evaporation
UK[ɪˌvæp.əˈreɪ.ʃən]US[ɪˌvæp.əˈreɪ.ʃən]
n
The process of a liquid turning into a vapor or gas.
n
The process of disappearing or being removed.
Morpheme Breakdown
e
vapor
ation
e
out
vapor
steam
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'evaporation' is built upon the Latin root 'vapor', meaning steam or warm breath. The prefix 'e-', a variant of 'ex-', signifies "out of" or "away from". Combined, the literal sense is "the process of passing off as vapor". This scientific term entered English in the mid-15th century, directly from the Latin 'evaporatio', to describe the physical phenomenon where a liquid escapes into the air. The metaphorical sense of "disappearing" logically extends from this core physical concept of matter vanishing into a gaseous state.
Analysis
Structure: e (out) + vapor (steam) + ation (noun suffix)
e: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out of" or "away from".
vapor: Latin origin, meaning "steam" or "warm exhalation". It functions as the core root.
ation: Latin suffix '-atio', forming nouns of action or process.
Examples
The rapid evaporation of the puddle left the pavement dry.
Heat increases the rate of evaporation from the soil.
There has been a gradual evaporation of public support for the policy.