irradiation

noun ir·ra·di·a·tion \ i-ˌrā-dē-ˈā-shən \

|Updated on: 1 Jun 2018

Definition of irradiation

1 : exposure to radiation (such as X-rays or alpha particles)

2 : the application of radiation (such as X-rays or gamma rays) for therapeutic purposes or for sterilization (as of food); also : partial or complete sterilization by irradiation

Recent Examples of irradiation from the Web

Prions can withstand heat, irradiation, enzymes that normally degrade proteins, and protein-altering chemicals, such as formaldehyde.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Camels in Africa may have been quietly spreading prion disease for decades," 26 Apr. 2018
That calculated out to an unpleasant irradiation rate of 5.75 micros an hour.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "As Innocuous as Plant No. 1," 10 Apr. 2018
Private companies then rent irradiation time at the reactors, send the resulting medley of isotopes to processing plants, book the final Mo-99 on commercial flights back to the US, and distribute it to hospitals and pharmacies.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Scientists racing to save vital medical isotopes imperiled by shabby reactors," 17 Jan. 2018
Crops are generally grown without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation (a form of radiation used to kill bacteria), or biotechnology.

— jessica decostole, Redbook, "5 Things You Should Know About Organic Food," 29 Nov. 2017
Before its 21-year-old gears gave out, the machine’s cobalt source had become so weak that irradiation sessions meant to last minutes took an hour.

— donald g. mcneil jr., New York Times, "As Cancer Tears Through Africa, Drug Makers Draw Up a Battle Plan," 7 Oct. 2017
The diamondback moths are not irradiated, though, because the irradiation strategy didn’t work.

— sarah zhang, The Atlantic, "Genetically Modified Moths Come to New York," 8 Sep. 2017
Many in the food-safety camp are already keen on more-energetic kill steps, such as irradiation, chemical treatment with ozone or chlorine compounds, or the use of high-barometric-pressure systems.

— holman w. jenkins, WSJ, "Chipotle Seeks a ‘Kill Step’," 28 July 2017
Instead, Hanford researchers in the late 1960s went to a local prison and paid the inmates to allow the irradiation of their testicles, to see just how much radiation a man can receive before the tails fall from his sperm.

— michael lewis, The Hive, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 2 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irradiation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of irradiation

1901

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

IRRADIATION Defined for Kids

irradiation

noun ir·ra·di·a·tion \ i-ˌrā-dē-ˈā-shən \

Definition of irradiation for Students

: exposure to radiation

Medical Dictionary

irradiation

noun ir·ra·di·a·tion \ ir-ˌād-ē-ˈā-shən \

medical Definition of irradiation

1 a : the radiation of a physiologically active agent from a point of origin within the body; especially : the spread of a nerve impulse beyond the usual conduction path

b : apparent enlargement of a light or bright object or surface when displayed against a dark background

2 a : exposure to radiation (as X-rays or alpha particles)

b : application of radiation (as X-rays or gamma rays) for therapeutic purposes or for sterilization (as of food)

3 : irradiance

Learn More about irradiation

See words that rhyme with irradiation Spanish Central: Translation of irradiation Nglish: Translation of irradiation for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about irradiation

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irradiation

Definition of irradiation

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First Known Use of irradiation

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irradiation

Definition of irradiation for Students

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irradiation

medical Definition of irradiation

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irradiation

Definition of irradiation

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IRRADIATION Defined for Kids

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irradiation

medical Definition of irradiation

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