entrainment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Technical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “entrainment” mean?
The act of causing something to fall into a synchronized rhythm, pattern, or process.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of causing something to fall into a synchronized rhythm, pattern, or process.
1. (Physics/Engineering) The capture and carrying of one substance, typically particles, bubbles, or droplets, by a moving fluid. 2. (Biology/Chemistry) Synchronization of an organism's internal circadian rhythm to an external cycle like light and dark. 3. (Psychology/Social) The process of aligning one's emotional or psychological state with that of another person or a group, such as in music or crowd behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling or definition differences. Usage frequencies align with technical fields common in each region (e.g., engineering in the US, fluid dynamics in the UK).
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK academic texts on chronobiology due to historical research centres.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday language. Moderately common in relevant scientific and technical literature in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “entrainment” in a Sentence
entrainment of [NOUN] (by/to [NOUN])entrainment to [CYCLE/STIMULUS]entrainment in [MEDIUM]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “entrainment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The external light cycle helps to entrain our sleep-wake rhythm.
- The mixer is designed to entrain air into the batter.
American English
- The therapy uses sound to entrain brainwaves to a calmer state.
- The jet engine can entrain significant amounts of surrounding air.
adverb
British English
- This is not standard usage. No common examples.
American English
- This is not standard usage. No common examples.
adjective
British English
- The entrainment capacity of the fluid was measured.
- They studied entrainment phenomena in tidal basins.
American English
- The concrete's air-entrainment properties prevent frost damage.
- We observed an entrainment effect in the neural oscillator.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in contexts of 'entraining' teams to a common goal or rhythm, but this is metaphorical and specialist.
Academic
Common in neuroscience, biology, physics, and psychology papers discussing rhythmic processes or fluid dynamics.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound highly technical or pretentious.
Technical
Primary domain. Standard term in engineering (e.g., 'air entrainment in concrete'), chronobiology, and process engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “entrainment”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “entrainment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “entrainment”
- Misspelling as 'entertainment'.
- Using it as a common synonym for 'influence' or 'motivation' outside technical contexts.
- Incorrect stress: stressing the first syllable (EN-trainment) instead of the second (en-TRAIN-ment).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While influence is broad, entrainment specifically implies causing something to fall into a synchronized rhythm or pattern, often through a physical or cyclical process.
It is not recommended. It is a technical term and would likely confuse listeners. Use simpler words like 'synchronization', 'getting in sync', or 'carrying along' depending on the context.
'Synchronization' is the general state of being in sync. 'Entrainment' emphasizes the active process or mechanism by which that synchronization is achieved, often involving a dominant rhythm or force imposing itself on another.
It is used within the technical/scientific contexts where the noun is found. It is very rare in general English.
The act of causing something to fall into a synchronized rhythm, pattern, or process.
Entrainment is usually formal, technical, scientific in register.
Entrainment: in British English it is pronounced /ɪnˈtreɪnmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɛnˈtreɪnmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word is purely technical.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TRAIN. 'Entrainment' is when something gets caught up in the train's motion and starts moving at the same speed and rhythm.
Conceptual Metaphor
RHYTHM IS A PHYSICAL FORCE THAT CAN CAPTURE AND CARRY; SYNCHRONIZATION IS BEING ON THE SAME TRAIN.
Practice
Quiz
In an engineering context, 'entrainment' most specifically refers to: