Definition

Noun 1. The act of increasing the density of something; the process of becoming more compact or concentrated. 2. A shortened version of a written work; an abridgment or summary. 3. The process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together. 4. The contraction of a gas on cooling. 5. Atmospheric moisture that has condensed because of cold; liquid formed from vapor, such as dew or droplets on a cold surface. 6. The process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state. 7. (Psychoanalysis) An unconscious process whereby two ideas or images combine into a single symbol, especially in dreams.

Usage and Examples

• The condensation on the window made it difficult to see outside. (Example of meaning 5: atmospheric moisture.)
• The book is a brilliant condensation of the author's three-volume thesis. (Example of meaning 2: a shortened version.)
• The condensation of steam into water releases heat. (Example of meaning 6: change from gas to liquid.)
• The report required the condensation of hundreds of pages of data into a ten-page summary. (Example of meaning 1: increasing density/concentration.)

Advanced Usage

• In Physics/Chemistry: The term is used precisely to describe a phase transition. For example, "The condensation of water vapor is a key part of the hydrological cycle."
• In Literature/Rhetoric: Refers to a concise, dense style of writing or a summarized work. For example, "The poet's use of condensation gives each line immense power."
• In Psychoanalysis (Freudian theory): A dream-work mechanism where multiple latent thoughts are fused into a single manifest dream image. For example, "The dream symbol of a 'king-lion' may be a condensation of the dreamer's feelings about authority and primal instinct."

Variants and Related Words

• Condense (verb): To make something more dense or concise; to change from a gas to a liquid.
  • Example: "The editor asked me to condense the chapter." / "The cold air caused the vapor to condense."
• Condenser (noun): A device or apparatus for condensing vapor into liquid, or for concentrating light or electricity.
• Condensate (noun): The liquid produced by the condensation of a gas or vapor.

Synonyms

• (For meanings 1, 3) Compression, concentration, consolidation.
• (For meaning 2) Abridgment, summary, digest, synopsis.
• (For meanings 5, 6) Liquefaction, precipitation, dew, droplets.

Antonyms

• (For meanings 1, 3, 6) Expansion, dilation, evaporation, vaporization.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• (To) Condense into: To be reduced or transformed into a denser form.
  • Example: "The long speech condensed into a few key points."
• Condensation trail (Contrail): A visible line of condensed water vapor left in the sky by an aircraft.
  • Example: "The jet's condensation trail stretched across the blue sky."

Noun

1. the act of increasing the density of something
2. a shortened version of a written work
3. the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
   • the contraction of a gas on cooling
4. atmospheric moisture that has condensed because of cold
5. the process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state
6. (psychoanalysis) an unconscious process whereby two ideas or images combine into a single symbol; especially in dreams