deliquescence

Variant of deliquesce

deliquesce definition

deli·quesce (del′i kwes′)

intransitive verb deliquesced -·quesced′, deliquescing -·quesc′·ing

  1. to melt away
  2. Biol.
    1. to melt away in the course of growth or decay, as parts of certain fungi
    2. to branch into many fine divisions, as leaf veins
  3. Chem. to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air

Etymology: L deliquescere < de-, from + liquescere, to melt, inchoative of liquere, to be liquid

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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