condense Hear it!

condense Definition

con·dense (kən dens)

transitive verb -·densed, -·dens·ing

  1. to make more dense or compact; reduce the volume of; compress
  2. to express in fewer words; make concise; abridge
  3. to change (a substance) to a denser form, as from a gas to a liquid
  4. Chem. to cause molecules of (the same or different substances) to combine to form a more complex compound, often with elimination of a simple molecule, as water

Etymology: Fr condenser < L condensare < condensus, very dense < com-, intens. + densus, dense

intransitive verb

to become condensed

condense Related Forms
con·dens·able adjective or con·dens·ible con·dens′·abil·ity noun or con·dens′·ibil·ity
condense Synonyms

condense

v.

  1. To compress

    press together, constrict, consolidate; see compress, contract 1, 2, decrease 1, 2.

  2. To abridge

    abbreviate, summarize, digest; see contract 2, decrease 2. See syn. study at contract.

condense Usage Examples

Object

  • boiler: Instead there are condensing communal boilers feeding each pod.
  • vapor: A refrigerated condenser may be used to condense the water vapor.
  • steam: By condensing the exhaust steam a vacuum is created in the low pressure cylinder, thus increasing the power.
  • locomotive: A condensing steam locomotive is constrained by being only able to reject heat to the atmosphere.
  • apparatus: This had to be changed to revolving condensing apparatus.
  • lens: These condensing lenses can be used either way round.

Preposition: on

  • surface: In spite of this, water may still condense on the surface of VELUX windows.
  • wall: I suspect it may be moisture from our showers condensing on the cold outside wall.

Preposition: into

  • cloud: There is also a small amount of water vapor that respires from plants and evaporates to join other water molecules in condensing into clouds.
  • droplet: They use the trick of cooling the aliens down, which makes the moisture condense into water droplets.
  • liquid: The vapors are then collected and allowed to condense back into a liquid.

Modifying Another Word

  • then: You can then condense this information down into a single value.
  • back: The vapors are then collected and allowed to condense back into a liquid.
  • not: Do not condense or stretch lines of type or, worse, single words, to fit your line length.
  • only: All new boilers must have an efficiency rating of A or B, and at the moment only condensing boilers achieve this.
  • again: Feel the connection between the hands stretch as they move apart, and condense again as they circle back together.
  • n't: Try and keep it quiet as canvas does n't condense noise!

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: There'll be more water to condense out onto any cold surfaces.

Used with why or when

  • what: They condense what is being said into notes for the deaf person to read on screen or in Braille.

Infinitive complement

  • form: In the air, DMS is transformed into an aerosol of tiny particles on which water vapor can condense to form clouds.