lyophilize

English

Alternative forms

• lyophilise

Etymology

1894, US. From Ancient Greek λύω (lúō, “to loosen, to dissolve”) + φίλος (phílos, “beloved”) + -ίζειν (-ízein); equivalent to lyo- +‎ -phile +‎ -ize. Compare hydrophilic (“water-absorbing”, literally “water-loving”) for use of -phile for “absorbing”. See lyophilization for more. Cognates in other European languages via same construction.

Verb

lyophilize (third-person singular simple present lyophilizes, present participle lyophilizing, simple past and past participle lyophilized)

1. To freeze-dry
   • 1894, United States Department of Agriculture, Crops in Peace and War: The Yearbook of Agriculture, U.S. G.P.O., page 907:

     Lyophilization The process of vacuum-drying substances from the frozen state. The water is sublimated into a trap at low temperature or is absorbed by drying agents. Verb: lyophilize.

Related terms

• lyophilic
• lyophilized
• lyophilization

Translations

freeze-dry

• Catalan: liofilitzar (ca)
• French: lyophiliser (fr)
• Galician: liofilizar (gl)
• German: lyophilisieren
• Italian: liofilizzare (it)
• Spanish: liofilizar (es)