Eructuation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The forceful release of gas from the stomach through the mouth, commonly called belching ; the sudden bursting forth of material from a volcano or similar vent
2. Expelling air noisily from the stomach up through the throat ; a violent outpouring of lava, ash or gases from the earth
3. Belching, the act of bringing wind up from the stomach ; the outbreak or ejection of molten rock and gases from a volcanic opening

Etymology: Eructation comes from Latin "eructatio," a noun formed from the verb "eructare," meaning to belch out. The verb combines "e-," meaning "out," with "ructare," an older verb for belching. The origin of "ructare" is uncertain, though it is often thought to be imitative of the sound it describes. English took the noun whole, and it keeps the Latin suffix "-ation," the same ending found in words like "creation" and "elevation." The English verb "eruct" is a back-formation from the noun, so the verb came after the noun rather than before it. Both forms are formal, medical-sounding terms for an act most people describe with a much shorter word.

Synonyms: eructation, belch, burp