Fluidising

Part of speech: verb, adjective

Definitions

1. The process of causing a solid material, typically a powder or granule, to behave like a fluid by passing a gas or liquid through it ; the act of making a substance flow more freely or smoothly by reducing its viscosity or resistance ; the technique of suspending particles in a fluid medium to enhance mixing, transport, or chemical reaction efficiency
2. The method by which gas or liquid is forced through a particulate solid to create a fluid-like state for easier handling or processing ; the act of enabling a material to flow or change shape by introducing a fluid or reducing internal friction ; the practice of transforming a packed bed of solids into a dynamic, suspended state that resembles liquid behavior
3. A procedure that converts a bed of solid particles into a fluidized state by injecting fluid to allow movement and flow ; the action of making a substance more pliable or mobile by introducing or increasing fluid content ; the industrial or scientific approach to treating particulate matter so it acts like a flowing liquid under specific conditions

Etymology: "Fluidising" is the present participle and gerund of "fluidise", which is formed from "fluid" and the suffix "-ise", a verb-forming ending that turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning to make or treat in a certain way. "Fluid" itself comes from Latin "fluidus", meaning flowing, from "fluere", to flow. So the core of the word is simply the idea of making something behave like a liquid. The sense that matters most today is technical. In engineering and chemistry, fluidising describes passing a gas or liquid upward through a bed of powder or granules until the solid particles lift and move as if they were a fluid. The same logic applies more loosely to softening or loosening a material by adding moisture, so that it becomes easier to pour, mix or shape.

Synonyms: fluidizing, liquefying, mobilizing, agitating, stirring

Antonyms: solidifying, hardening, stabilizing