irradiation

play

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

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

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
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
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, vanityfair.com, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 26 July 2017
A Sri Lankan public health official,left, points out Mosquito lava in a bottle during a Dengue fever irradiation work in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

— Washington Post, "Sri Lanka’s worst-ever dengue outbreak kills 225," 4 July 2017
University lab technicians treated the fish skin with various sterilizing agents, and sent it to São Paulo for irradiation to kill viruses before packaging and refrigeration.

— reuters, NBC News, "An Experimental Treatment: Doctors in Brazil Use Fish Skin to Treat Burn Victims," 26 May 2017
University lab technicians treated the fish skin with various sterilizing agents, and sent it to São Paulo for irradiation to kill viruses before packaging and refrigeration.

— reuters, NBC News, "An Experimental Treatment: Doctors in Brazil Use Fish Skin to Treat Burn Victims," 26 May 2017
University lab technicians treated the fish skin with various sterilizing agents, and sent it to São Paulo for irradiation to kill viruses before packaging and refrigeration.

— reuters, NBC News, "An Experimental Treatment: Doctors in Brazil Use Fish Skin to Treat Burn Victims," 26 May 2017
University lab technicians treated the fish skin with various sterilizing agents, and sent it to São Paulo for irradiation to kill viruses before packaging and refrigeration.

— reuters, NBC News, "An Experimental Treatment: Doctors in Brazil Use Fish Skin to Treat Burn Victims," 26 May 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

IRRADIATION Defined for Kids

irradiation

play

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

Definition of irradiation for Students

:exposure to radiation

Medical Dictionary

irradiation

play

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up irradiation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

irradiation

Definition of irradiation

Recent Examples of irradiation from the Web

First Known Use of irradiation

IRRADIATION Defined for Kids

irradiation

Definition of irradiation for Students

Medical Dictionary

irradiation

medical Definition of irradiation

Learn More about irradiation

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

anathematize

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Name That Thing

Citation

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066

irradiation

Definition of irradiation

Read the Latest from M-W

Recent Examples of irradiation from the Web

First Known Use of irradiation

IRRADIATION Defined for Kids

irradiation

Definition of irradiation for Students

Medical Dictionary

irradiation

medical Definition of irradiation

Learn More about irradiation

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066