coagulation

noun

co·​ag·​u·​la·​tion kō-ˌa-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

: the process of becoming viscous or thickened into a coherent mass : the forming of clots (as in blood or cream) : the process of coagulating

… an incision is made on the skin of the forearm with a spring-loaded device, and the time to coagulation is measured.

—Lawrence L. K. Leung

Examples of coagulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The coagulation cascade is notorious for keeping med students up at night, a complex yin-and-yang network of proteins that coordinate to congeal blood around wounds and pathogens, while still keeping the circulatory system flowing. —Jason Mast Reprints, STAT, 13 Apr. 2023

So, blood clotting, also known as coagulation, is an important natural process. —Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 27 July 2023

In addition to blood coagulation, your body needs vitamin K to help maintain strong bones. —Alex Vance, Fortune Well, 5 July 2023

Blood clotting, or coagulation, is the process that helps your body reduce bleeding from an injury. —Alex Vance, Fortune Well, 5 July 2023

Patients are observed until their blood coagulation becomes normal and, by observing how effective mixtures are over time, researchers can hone the mixtures of their antivenom products. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2023

Protein networks formed by acid coagulation of whey proteins and casein. —Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013

Do people slow down to read a DMS, causing a domino effect of vehicular coagulation? —John Kelly, Washington Post, 1 May 2023

Polly married William Hewson — an anatomist famous for his discoveries in blood coagulation — in 1770. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coagulation

• coagulation factor

• coagulation factor

Medical Definition

coagulation

noun

co·​ag·​u·​la·​tion kō-ˌag-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

a

: a change to a viscous, jellylike, or solid state

especially : a change from a liquid to a thickened curdlike state not by evaporation but by chemical reaction

the spontaneous coagulation of freshly drawn blood

the coagulation of milk by rennin

b

: the process by which such change of state takes place consisting of the alteration of a soluble substance (as a protein) into an insoluble form or of the flocculation or separation of colloidal or suspended matter

2

: a substance or body formed by coagulation : coagulum

3

: disruption of tissue by physical means (as by application of an electric current) so that denaturation and clumping of protein occur

diathermic coagulation of tissues during surgery to seal bleeding blood vessels

see electrocoagulation, photocoagulation