liquefaction

noun liq·ue·fac·tion \ ˌli-kwə-ˈfak-shən \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of liquefaction

1 : the process of making or becoming liquid

2 : the state of being liquid

3 : conversion of soil into a fluidlike mass during an earthquake or other seismic event

Recent Examples of liquefaction from the Web

One of the advances in the most recent report, compared to previous studies, is the ability of researchers to detect which areas are prone to liquefaction, wherein saturated soil behaves more like a liquid than a solid.

— kale williams, OregonLive.com, "When the 'Big One' hits, Portland faces mass casualties, widespread destruction: Study," 15 Mar. 2018
The faults cross the Delta where ground shaking during an earthquake poses a risk of liquefaction to the levee system.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego's scientists span the globe to unearth new discoveries, solve deepest mysteries," 15 Apr. 2018
The southern half of the San Fernando Valley is a large liquefaction zone.

— rong-gong lin ii, latimes.com, "Worried about being on top of an earthquake fault? New California maps will let you know on a smartphone," 23 Mar. 2018
Plans call for an 800-mile pipeline to ship gas off the North Slope oil fields, as well as construction of a liquefaction plant on the Kenai Peninsula.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska gas line corporation hires contractors with D.C. connections," 1 Apr. 2018
Shell is in talks with investors in natural-gas fields off Israel and Cyprus to supply its Egyptian liquefaction facility, according to people familiar with the matter.

— bradley olson, WSJ, "Mediterranean Gas Bounty Suddenly Seems Within Big Oil’s Reach," 13 Mar. 2018
One idea calls for an undersea pipeline delivering North Slope gas a dozen miles to a floating liquefaction plant built on a barge, said David Clarke, a consultant and former longtime BP project manager.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska pipeline backers reject idea of North Slope LNG exports by tanker," 24 Jan. 2018
In addition, the article misstated Rex W. Tillerson’s position at Exxon Mobil when Qatar built a gas liquefaction plant in 1996.

— New York Times, "Corrections: January 24, 2018," 23 Jan. 2018
Worst of all, because earthquakes are hard to predict, liquefaction is almost impossible to prepare for.

— kyle frischkorn, Smithsonian, "What Are All The Ways That Land Can Disappear Beneath Your Feet?," 29 June 2017

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