fractionate
verb
frac·tion·ate
ˈfrak-shə-ˌnāt 
fractionated; fractionating
1
: to separate (a mixture) into different portions especially by a fractional process
2
: to divide or break up
Examples of fractionate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this relational void, where the story often feels fractionated rather than woven, the wildfire itself emerges as the book's main character.
—
Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 June 2023
Native uses wholesome ingredients like shea butter, tapioca starch, and fractionated coconut oil (which is less messy and absorbs more easily into your skin than regular coconut oil).
—Leeron Horry, Popular Science, 25 Oct. 2019
Perhaps each particle is free to fractionate into millions of dispersed parts in its own private cosmic wormhole, until a measurement forces it to become whole at some particular location, chosen probabilistically.
—Quanta Magazine, 16 Feb. 2017
Buzz: With the help of Botox and fractionated lasers, doctors can erase lines and wrinkles on the chest and even sharpen the appearance of cleavage.
—Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Dec. 2018
Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 June 2023
Native uses wholesome ingredients like shea butter, tapioca starch, and fractionated coconut oil (which is less messy and absorbs more easily into your skin than regular coconut oil).
—Leeron Horry, Popular Science, 25 Oct. 2019
Perhaps each particle is free to fractionate into millions of dispersed parts in its own private cosmic wormhole, until a measurement forces it to become whole at some particular location, chosen probabilistically.
—Quanta Magazine, 16 Feb. 2017
Buzz: With the help of Botox and fractionated lasers, doctors can erase lines and wrinkles on the chest and even sharpen the appearance of cleavage.
—Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Dec. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fractionate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near fractionate
Cite this Entry
“Fractionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractionate. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
fractionate
verb
frac·tion·ate
ˈfrak-shə-ˌnāt
fractionated; fractionating
: to separate into different portions
Medical Definition
fractionate
transitive verb
frac·tion·ate
-shə-ˌnāt
fractionated; fractionating
: to separate (as a mixture) into different portions (as by distillation or precipitation)
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