ionize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to convert an atom, molecule, or other chemical entity into one or more ions

   A sufficiently energetic photon can ionize a hydrogen atom by ejecting its electron.

2. 2
   verb

   to become converted into ions or begin to contain free ions

   The gas begins to ionize when the electric field becomes strong enough.

Formed in the late nineteenth century from ion + -ize ("make or become"). Ion was coined in 1834 by William Whewell for Michael Faraday from Greek ion ("going"), referring to the movement of charged species toward electrodes during electrolysis.

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