photolysis

1 of 2

noun

pho·​tol·​y·​sis fō-ˈtä-lə-səs 

: chemical decomposition by the action of radiant energy (such as light)

photolytic

ˌfō-tə-ˈli-tik 

adjective

photolytically

ˌfō-tə-ˈli-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

photolytic

2 of 2

adjective

pho·​to·​lyt·​ic ¦fōtᵊl¦itik 

: of, relating to, or formed by photolysis

photolytically

-tə̇k(ə)lē 

adverb

Examples of photolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Flash photolysis is still used to study semiconductors, nanoparticles, and photosynthesis, among other things. — IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2022

But sunlight in the upper atmosphere is continuously breaking down the gas by photolysis, so some process must be slowly replacing it. — Davide Castelvecchi, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2010

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin

Adjective

phot- + -lytic

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for photolysis

• autolysis
• cytolysis
• glycolysis
• haemolysis
• hydrolysis
• lipolysis
• pyrolysis
• thermolysis
• electrolysis
• fibrinolysis
• radiolysis
• glycogenolysis

Medical Definition

photolysis

noun

pho·​tol·​y·​sis fō-ˈtäl-ə-səs 

plural photolyses -ˌsēz 

: chemical decomposition by the action of radiant energy compare radiolysis

photolytic

ˌfōt-ᵊl-ˈit-ik 

adjective

photolytically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb