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Glite Dictionary
lyophilization

lyophilization

9.9
A process of freezing food or medicine then drying them so the ice becomes gas to keep them longer
  • noun
  • /laɪˌɒfɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : liofilización
  • Pharmaceuticals are commonly subjected to lyophilization to extend their shelf life and effectiveness.

Examples

  • Scientists often utilize lyophilization to preserve the integrity of biological samples for research.

  • The lyophilization process helps maintain the nutritional value of food during long-term storage.

  • In fact, the cold, vacuum conditions of a cometary surface are precisely the conditions that biologists use to store bacteria in a process known as lyophilization.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

freeze-drying
vslyophilization
  • Specialized
4.1

A way to dry food or medicine by freezing it and removing the ice so it keeps its shape

is the technical or scientific term for the same drying process

Surface Forms

lyophilization singular
lyophilizations plural

Morphology

lyophilization = lyophilize (opaque) = lyophilize + ation

Technical formation from specialized verb; learners unfamiliar with 'lyophilize' or combining elements cannot infer 'freeze-dry' from the parts.

Etymology

Lyophilization comes from scientific Greek parts lyo- and phil-, where lyo- is used for processes involving freezing and phil- means 'loving' or 'having an affinity for'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of lyophilization as 'freeze-drying' — a method that 'removes water by freezing' to preserve food, medicines, or samples.