sublimate

English

WOTD – 3 September 2006

Etymology

Latin sublimatus, past participle of sublimare (“to raise, elevate”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Verb

sublimate (third-person singular simple present sublimates, present participle sublimating, simple past and past participle sublimated)

  1. (transitive, intransitive, physics) To change state from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid state.
  2. To purify or refine a substance through such a change of state.
  3. (transitive, psychoanalysis) To modify the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct in a socially acceptable manner; to divert the energy of such an instinct into some acceptable activity.
  4. (archaic) To raise to a place of honor; to refine and exalt; to heighten; to elevate.
    • Dr. H. More
      The precepts of Christianity are […] so apt to cleanse and sublimate the more gross and corrupt.

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Noun

sublimate (plural sublimates)

  1. (chemistry) A product obtained by sublimation.

See also

Anagrams

Italian

Verb

sublimate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of sublimare
  2. second-person plural imperative of sublimare
  3. feminine plural of sublimato

Latin

Verb

sublīmāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of sublīmō
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