deliquescent

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/ UK /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
chemistry: absorbing enough moisture from the air to dissolve gradually and form a solution

Calcium chloride is so deliquescent that an open sample soon becomes liquid.
2

adj
botany: branching repeatedly so that the main stem becomes lost among spreading branches

The elm developed a broad deliquescent crown rather than a single dominant trunk.
3

adj
literary: seeming to melt, dissolve, or fade away

The pale shapes became deliquescent in the morning mist.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · chemistry: absorbing enough... moisture-absorbing

2 adj · botany: branching... diffusely branching

3 adj · literary: seeming to melt,... melting dissolving

Opposites

excurrent

Word family

Derived forms deliquescencedeliquescently

Related forms deliquescehygroscopicliquescent

Etymology

From Latin deliquescent-, the present-participle stem of deliquescere, 'to melt away or dissolve,' formed from de- + liquescere, 'to become liquid.' Chemistry adopted the term for solids that liquefy by absorbing atmospheric moisture.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# deliquescent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/

## Meanings
1. chemistry: absorbing enough moisture from the air to dissolve gradually and form a solution
2. botany: branching repeatedly so that the main stem becomes lost among spreading branches
3. literary: seeming to melt, dissolve, or fade away

## Examples
- Calcium chloride is so deliquescent that an open sample soon becomes liquid.
- The elm developed a broad deliquescent crown rather than a single dominant trunk.
- The pale shapes became deliquescent in the morning mist.

## Synonyms
- moisture-absorbing
- melting

## Antonyms
- excurrent

## Derived Forms
- deliquescence
- deliquescently

## Related Forms
- deliquesce
- hygroscopic
- liquescent

## Etymology
From Latin deliquescent-, the present-participle stem of deliquescere, 'to melt away or dissolve,' formed from de- + liquescere, 'to become liquid.' Chemistry adopted the term for solids that liquefy by absorbing atmospheric moisture.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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