coagulation
UK: kəʊˌæɡjʊˈleɪʃən | US: koʊˌæɡjəˈleɪʃən
n. the process of a liquid changing into a thickened or solid state
n. (medicine) the clumping of particles, especially blood cells
The word "coagulation" traces back to Latin coagulare ("to curdle or clot"), derived from co- (together) + agere (to drive, act). The root agul evolved from ag-, reflecting the idea of "driving particles together" to form a solid. Over time, it specialized in medical and chemical contexts to describe the clumping of liquids (e.g., blood clotting). The suffix -ation nominalizes the process.
Blood coagulation is vital for wound healing.
The coagulation of milk proteins forms cheese curds.
Excessive coagulation can lead to dangerous blood clots.
The lab studied the coagulation rate of the new synthetic polymer.
Heat accelerates the coagulation of egg whites.