coagulation

noun

co·​ag·​u·​la·​tion kō-ˌa-gyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce coagulation (audio)
: 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 In addition to blood coagulation, your body needs vitamin K to help maintain strong bones. Alex Vance, Fortune Well, 4 Nov. 2023 As part of their analysis, the researchers composited the health outcomes into 10 organ systems: cardiovascular, coagulation and hematological, fatigue, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurological, and pulmonary. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2023 Blood clotting, or coagulation, is the process that helps your body reduce bleeding from an injury. Alex Vance, Fortune Well, 4 Nov. 2023 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 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coagulation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coagulation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near coagulation

Cite this Entry

“Coagulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coagulation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

coagulation

noun
co·​ag·​u·​la·​tion kō-ˌag-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce coagulation (audio)
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
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