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opacification

opacification

1 9.3
A change that makes something cloudy so you cannot see through it
  • noun
  • /oʊˌpæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : opacificación
  • The doctor noted that the opacification of the lens was affecting the patient's vision.
  • sinus opacification
  • opacification of ethmoid
  • complete opacification

Examples

  • Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) of the head showed a partial opacification at the sphenoid sinus.

    Academic text (2006)
  • A cerebral angiogram showed an area of opacification within the anterior aspect of the left cavernous sinus consistent with thrombosis.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The degree of opacification increases with the degree of maturation of the lesion.

    Academic text (2006)
  • A soft-tissue density may be visible in the middle ear cavity with opacification of mastoid air cells.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Follow-up CT again showed opacification of the left maxillary sinus with areas of ossification.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The patient presented clinically with a small non-haemorrhagic focus of retinal opacification in the left eye (Figure 2b).

    Academic text (1995)
  • Plain x-rays of the sinuses revealed opacification of the maxillary sinuses bilaterally.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Figure 2. Axial (A) and coronal (B, C, and D) CTs of the paranasal sinuses demonstrate complete opacification.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The patient's CT scan of her chest revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and scattered bilateral ground-glass opacifications (Figure 1).

    Academic text (2007)
  • An ACT scan of the sinuses revealed bilateral maxillary and ethmoid sinus opacification and probable bone erosion of the inferior turbinate (Figure 5).

    Academic text (1995)

Synonyms

opacity
vsopacification
4 7.0

How much light or other rays something does not let through

refers to the change into cloudiness instead of that static amount
fogging
vsopacification
1 3.9

Water drops on a surface that make it hard to see through

is about a general change to cloudiness not limited to surface condensation
obscuration
vsopacification
1 8.2

Something that stops you from seeing or understanding

describes becoming cloudy as a physical change rather than general hiding
optical opacity
vsopacification
  • Specialized
7.4

How much a material does not let light pass through it

describes the process of becoming cloudy over time rather than a single measure
opaqueness
vsopacification
7.0

How much a material does not let light pass through

focuses on the process of becoming cloudy rather than the degree

Antonyms

30 2.7

How easy it is to see through something like clean water

transparency
  • Specialized
5 4.6

To let light pass so you can see objects behind

How Opaque

opacification
  • Specialized
1 9.3
opacity
4 7.0
cloudiness
1 3.2
translucency
1 6.9
transparency
  • Specialized
5 4.6

Surface Forms

opacification singular

Morphology

opacification = opacify (semi-transparent) = opac + ify + ation

This is a regular noun formation from the verb 'opacify', meaning the process or result of making something opaque.

Etymology

Opacification comes from the same root as opaque and Latin opacus, meaning 'shaded' or 'dark'. So it is the process of making something 'not clear' or 'cloudy', which is why doctors and scientists use it for lenses, tissues, or vessels that become harder to see through.