Effloresce

[,eflɒ:'res]

Definition

(verb.) become encrusted with crystals due to evaporation.

(verb.) come into or as if into flower; 'These manifestations effloresced in the past'.

Edited by Angus--From WordNet

Definition

(v. i.) To blossom forth.

(v. i.) To change on the surface, or throughout, to a whitish, mealy, or crystalline powder, from a gradual decomposition, esp. from the loss of water, on simple exposure to the air; as, Glauber's salts, and many others, effloresce.

(v. i.) To become covered with a whitish crust or light crystallization, from a slow chemical change between some of the ingredients of the matter covered and an acid proceeding commonly from an external source; as, the walls of limestone caverns sometimes effloresce with nitrate of calcium in consequence of the action in consequence of nitric acid formed in the atmosphere.

Typist: Xavier

Synonyms and Synonymous

v. n. Become pulverulent (on the surface).

Checker: Rupert

Definition

v.i. to blossom forth: (chem.) to become covered with a white dust: to form minute crystals.—ns. Efflores′cence Efflores′cency production of flowers: the time of flowering: a redness of the skin: the formation of a white powder on the surface of bodies or of minute crystals.—adj. Efflores′cent forming a white dust on the surface: shooting into white threads.

Typist: Tim