rarefaction

noun

rar·​e·​fac·​tion ˌrer-ə-ˈfak-shən 

1

: the action or process of rarefying

2

: the quality or state of being rarefied

3

: a state or region of minimum pressure in a medium traversed by compressional waves (such as sound waves)

rarefactional

ˌrer-ə-ˈfak-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Examples of rarefaction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For rarity, for sheer automotive rarefaction, the flagship of BMW’s 2 billion-euro i Division makes those cars look like link sausage. —Dan Neil, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2017

Here is art that turns confectionery into both rarefaction and panache. —Alastair MacAulay, New York Times, 19 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

French or Medieval Latin; French raréfaction, from Medieval Latin rarefaction-, rarefactio, from Latin rarefacere to rarefy

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rarefaction

noun

rar·​efac·​tion

ˌrar-ə-ˈfak-shən,

ˌrer-

1

: the action or process of rarefying

2

: the state of being rarefied

3

: a state or region of minimum pressure in a substance (as air) being traveled through by a wave formed by compression (as sound)

Medical Definition

rarefaction

noun

rar·​e·​fac·​tion ˌrar-ə-ˈfak-shən, ˌrer- 

1

: the action or process of rarefying

2

: the quality or state of being rarefied

especially : an increase in porosity

areas of rarefaction in the bones

3

: a state or region of minimum pressure in a medium transversed by compressional waves (as sound waves)

the eardrum vibrates according to the compressions and rarefactions of the sound wave

rarefactional

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective