| adsorption |
the condensation or adhesion of a gas, vapor, liquid, or dissolved substance on the surface of a solid or liquid. (Cf. absorption.) |
| air lock |
an obstruction, as in a pipe, caused by a bubble or pocket of trapped air or vapor. [1/2 definitions] |
| atmospheric river |
a very long and narrow wind corridor that transports a vast amount of water vapor through the sky, which can result in drenching rainstorms for particular areas. |
| boil1 |
of a liquid, to produce bubbles of vapor when heated to a high enough temperature. [1/8 definitions] |
| boiling point |
the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals atmospheric pressure and the liquid boils. [1/2 definitions] |
| contrail |
a visible trail of moisture condensed into water drops or ice crystals, formed in the wake of a high-flying plane or rocket; vapor trail. |
| dew point |
the temperature at which water vapor in the air starts to condense into liquid. |
| discharge tube |
a device that produces light by means of an electric current discharged in gas or vapor. |
| distillation |
the process of heating a substance to produce a vapor, which is then cooled and condensed, in order to purify, concentrate, or extract components from the substance. [1/2 definitions] |
| effluvium |
an outflow of usu. invisible, foul-smelling vapor or gas. |
| evanesce |
to disappear like a vapor; vanish into nothing. |
| evanescent |
tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing; fleeting. |
| evaporate |
to turn from liquid into vapor; pass away in the form of vapor. [2/5 definitions] |
| exhale |
to breathe out; emit breath or vapor. [4 definitions] |
| flame |
the ignited gas and vapor that rises from a burning object and is visible as brightly colored, wavering light. [1/9 definitions] |
| fluorescent lamp |
a glass tube with a fluorescent coating on the inside that gives off light when the mercury vapor in the tube is bombarded with a stream of electrons. |
| frost |
a light, white covering of dew or water vapor frozen into ice crystals. [1/9 definitions] |
| fume |
(often pl.) a vapor, smoke, odor, or the like, esp. one that is disagreeable or unhealthful. [3/6 definitions] |
| humid |
having a relatively high amount of moisture or water vapor; damp. |
| humidity |
the amount of water vapor in the air, relative to the greatest amount possible at a given temperature; relative humidity. [1/2 definitions] |
| hydrosphere |
collectively, all bodies and forms of water on or around the earth's surface, including vapor and clouds in the atmosphere. |