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compaction

compaction

1 6.5
Making soil or material denser by pressing it together
  • noun
  • /kəmˈpækʃən/
translation icon : compactación
  • Soil compaction from foot traffic can hinder the growth of plants by reducing air circulation and water infiltration.
  • soil compaction
  • compaction tests
  • result of compaction

Examples

  • A potential disadvantage may be the compaction of the mulch as the scraper lays the third strip of yard trimmings.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Does it have any kind of compaction quality from clay?

  • On the ground floor, the compaction of soil below the surface is most important.

    Blog text (17)
  • Athletic fields often need more organic content, and they typically suffer from compaction.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The results of compaction tests for soil mixtures with 8% and 10% cement are shown in Table 2.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Damage to surrounding trees averages 50 percent, and soil compaction by heavy machinery impedes regeneration.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The inside walls have spacer ribs to minimize compaction of the cart's contents and enhance air circulation.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Modern collection trucks for commingled curbside programs feature compaction, generally with semiautomated or automated mechanisms for lifting materials into the truck.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Heavy grazing of arid ecosystems and/or infertile soils results in organic matter losses and compaction that decrease fertility.

    Academic text (2006)
  • To improve drainage in the garden, we need to address the compaction of the soil caused by heavy rain.

Synonyms

compression
vscompaction
42 4.0

Pressing something so it becomes smaller and denser

also covers packing things tightly together, not only pressing them
contraction
vscompaction
34 4.4

A process of becoming smaller in size or amount

focuses on bringing parts closer by pressing or packing, not only shrinking
compactness
vscompaction
1 4.4

How closely things are packed so they take little space

describes the process or result of making that closely packed state happen
condensing
vscompaction
1 4.9

Making something smaller or more compact by reducing its volume

often uses pressing or packing rather than only reducing volume or space
consolidation
vscompaction
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A hard mass that forms when loose material is pressed together

is the general action of pressing or packing things to make them more dense
densification
vscompaction
  • Specialized
1 8.4

The act of making something more dense by adding more people, buildings, or tiny parts

focuses on pressing or packing to bring parts closer together
compactification
vscompaction
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A process that adds points to a space so it stays within limits and has no edges

is the physical process of pressing or packing materials, not abstract mathematical change
concretion
vscompaction
  • Specialized
8.9

Loose minerals or sediments come together to make a hard mass

describes making parts closer by packing or pressing in general situations
concretization
vscompaction
  • Specialized
9.1

Small pieces of rock or sand become hard and form a solid mass

focuses on pressing or packing parts together without the hardening step

Antonyms

rarefaction
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A drop in how much material is in a space, for example less air at high altitudes

How Compact

crushing
1 6.0
compaction
1 6.5
compression
42 4.0
packing
30 1.1

Surface Forms

compaction singular
compactions plural

Morphology

compaction = compact (transparent) = compact + ion

Clear nominalization of the verb 'compact' with '-ion' indicating the process/result of making something compact, which is directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

The word compaction comes from com- meaning 'together' and a root that meant 'press' or 'pack', much like the everyday word pack. So, compaction is the act of pressing or packing material together to make it more dense.