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Glite Dictionary
to cavitate

to cavitate

1 8.8
To make bubbles in a liquid when pressure drops suddenly
  • verb
  • /ˈkævɪˌteɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cavitar
  • The lungs are usually involved, with multinodular infiltrates that may cavitate.

Examples

  • Answering all ahead flank cavitate.

    Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

  • The Left's refusal to tolerate religion or spirituality means that they have cavitated a hole in their tooth.

    Blog text (2)

  • We we we had this, I had this this sound of a tree cavitating in my book.

  • Helm, left full rudder, all ahead flank cavitate.

    Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

  • We're cavitating.

    The Hunt for Red October (1990)

  • The nodules can cavitate and, depending on their location, may cause haemoptysis if they are close to a main bronchus, or may cause pneumothorax if they are situated adjacent to the pleura 1 3.

    Academic text (2007)

  • When the propeller begins to spin too quickly, it can cavitate and form bubbles that hinder performance.

  • During the experiment, we observed that the liquid would cavitate when the pressure dropped suddenly.

  • Engineers must ensure that the design does not allow the pump to cavitate while operating under high stress.

Synonyms

to bubble
vsto cavitate
32 1.0

To make small round pockets of air appear in a liquid

usually involves rapid pressure change rather than gentle gas release
to form bubbles
vsto cavitate
1 2.9

Make small round pockets of air inside or on a liquid

often results from sudden pressure drops not mere surface froth
to vesiculate
vsto cavitate
  • Specialized
9.9

To form small pockets filled with fluid in tissue

is caused specifically by rapid pressure change rather than general formation
to popple
vsto cavitate
  • Archaic
9.7

To make small bubbles and light splashes in water

focuses on movement rather than pressure-driven cavity formation

Surface Forms

cavitate infinitive
cavitated past
cavitated past participle
cavitating present participle
cavitates third person singular

Morphology

cavitate = cavity (transparent) = cavity + ate

The verb is directly formed from the noun 'cavity' with the productive verb-forming suffix '-ate', meaning 'to form or produce cavities'.

Etymology

Cavitate comes from the Latin root cavus meaning 'hollow', the same root you see in cavity. So to cavitate is to make tiny hollows or bubbles in a liquid, like little 'caves' that appear when pressure drops.