vaporize
C1Formal, technical, scientific, sometimes dramatic/colloquial (for the 'disappear' sense).
Definition
Meaning
to turn from a solid or liquid into vapor or gas; to disappear suddenly or be destroyed completely.
To cause something to vanish or be annihilated, often suddenly or completely; to convert into a fine spray or mist; to dissipate rapidly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is physical and scientific (phase change). The secondary meaning of 'disappear/destroy completely' is metaphorical but very common, especially in contexts of conflict, fantasy, or hyperbole.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English also accepts 'vaporise' as a correct spelling variant. The '-ize' ending is also standard in UK academic/scientific writing. No significant meaning difference.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The 'destroy utterly' connotation is strong in military/scifi contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in the 'destroy' sense (e.g., 'vaporize the target'). The spelling 'vaporize' is dominant in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] vaporizes [Object].[Object] is vaporized (by [Subject]).[Subject] vaporizes into [gas/mist/nothing].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “vanish/vaporize into thin air”
- “to be vaporized (fig., meaning to be utterly defeated or eliminated).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'Our market lead vaporized after the new regulations.'
Academic
Common in physics, chemistry, engineering texts: 'The sample was vaporized in the spectrometer.'
Everyday
Common in hyperbolic or dramatic speech: 'My hopes for a holiday just vaporized when I saw my work schedule.'
Technical
Core term in physics (phase changes), laser surgery, industrial processes, military tech (directed-energy weapons).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The intense heat will vaporise the metal.
- His entire fortune seemed to vaporise overnight.
American English
- The laser can vaporize the tumor with precision.
- Our plans to go out vaporized when the storm hit.
adverb
British English
- The water disappeared vaporisingly fast.
- N/A – Extremely rare, not standard.
American English
- The substance vanished vaporizingly under the beam.
- N/A – Extremely rare, not standard.
adjective
British English
- The vaporised material condensed on the cooler surface.
- She faced the vaporising heat of the furnace.
American English
- The vaporized rock formed a fine cloud of ash.
- He described the vaporizing effect of the new weapon.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The sun can vaporize water from puddles.
- The steam is water that has vaporized.
- The scientist heated the liquid until it began to vaporize.
- My confidence vaporized when I saw the difficult exam.
- In the science fiction film, the alien ship vaporized the city with a single blast.
- The company's profits vaporized during the economic crisis.
- Ultra-short pulse lasers are used to vaporize tissue with minimal thermal damage to surrounding areas.
- The political scandal caused the minister's reputation to vaporize instantly, leaving his career in ruins.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VAPORizer (like a humidifier) that turns water into vapor. 'Vaporize' does the same thing, but often more intensely or completely.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS PHASE CHANGE (turning into gas). SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE IS EVAPORATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'выпарить' (to evaporate off liquid, often deliberately). 'Vaporize' implies a more complete, rapid, or forceful transformation. The metaphorical 'disappear' sense is stronger in English. The Russian 'испарить' is closer but less common.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'evaporate' for forceful/instantaneous destruction. Confusing spelling: 'vapourize' (hypercorrection). Incorrect: 'The water vaporized in the sun' (use 'evaporated' for slow, natural process).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'vaporize' MOST likely metaphorical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Evaporate' typically describes a slower, natural process (e.g., water evaporating from a lake). 'Vaporize' suggests a more rapid, complete, or often forced transformation, usually involving higher energy or a deliberate action, and is common in technical and dramatic contexts.
No. While its primary and most precise meaning is scientific (phase change from liquid/solid to gas), it is very commonly used metaphorically to mean 'disappear or be destroyed completely and suddenly' in everyday, journalistic, and military language.
Both are correct. 'Vaporize' is the standard spelling in American English and is also widely used in British English, especially in scientific and academic writing. 'Vaporise' is a common alternative spelling in British English.
Yes. It can be used both transitively ('The laser vaporized the target') and intransitively ('The water droplet vaporized instantly'). The intransitive use is synonymous with 'turn to vapor'.
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