vaporize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to convert a liquid or solid into vapor, or to become vapor

   The intense heat would vaporize any ordinary material used for the container.

2. 2
   verb

   to destroy something completely with intense heat or energy

   The laser pulse can vaporize a tiny layer of the target.

3. 3
   verb

   to disappear or cause something to disappear suddenly

   The promised savings seemed to vaporize as costs rose.

Formed from vapor + -ize. Vapor comes through Middle English and French from Latin vapor ("steam, heat"). The literal change into gas later produced figurative senses of sudden destruction or disappearance.

Topics