efflorescence

efflorescence

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French efflorescence, from Latin efflōrēscō, which was from ex- (“out”) +‎ flōrēscō (“to blossom”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛfləˈɹɛsəns/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

efflorescence (countable and uncountable, plural efflorescences)

1. (chemistry) The formation of a powdery surface on crystals, as a hydrate is converted to anhydrous form by losing loosely bound water of crystallization to the atmosphere.
2. (botany) The production of flowers.
3. (construction) An encrustation of soluble salts, commonly white, deposited on the surface of stone, brick, plaster, or mortar; usually caused by free alkalies leached from mortar or adjacent concrete as moisture moves through it.
4. (geology) An encrustation of soluble salts, deposited on rock or soil by evaporation; often found in arid or geothermal environments.
5. (figuratively) Rapid flowering of a culture or civilisation etc.
   • 2022 August 29, Michelle Goldberg, “The Book That Explains Our Cultural Stagnation”, in The New York Times‎, ISSN 0362-4331:

     I’d hoped that when the black hole of the Donald Trump presidency ended, redirected energy might allow for a cultural efflorescence. So far that hasn’t happened.

6. (pathology) A redness, rash, or eruption on the skin.

Derived terms

• effloresce
• efflorescent

Translations

formation of a powdery surface

Danish: forvitring (da) French: efflorescence (fr) Greenlandic: aaneq Italian: efflorescenza Romanian: eflorescență (ro) f Tagalog: halintubig

production of flowers

French: efflorescence (fr) Greek: άνθηση (el) f (ánthisi), εξάνθηση (el) f (exánthisi) Italian: efflorescenza Romanian: eflorescență (ro) f

rapid flowering of a culture

French: efflorescence (fr) Greek: άνθηση (el) f (ánthisi) Italian: efflorescenza Romanian: eflorescență (ro) f

eruption on the skin

French: efflorescence (fr), irruption (fr) f Greek: εξάνθημα (el) n (exánthima) Italian: efflorescenza Romanian: eflorescență (ro) f

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French

Etymology

Learned derivation from Latin efflōrēscere with the suffix -ence.[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e.flɔ.ʁɛ.sɑ̃s/, /e.flɔ.ʁe.sɑ̃s/, /ɛf.flɔ.ʁɛs.sɑ̃s/[2]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

efflorescence f (plural efflorescences)

1. efflorescence

References

1. “efflorescence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
2. “efflorescence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.