Siliconating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of treating or coating a surface with a silicon-containing compound to make it water-repellent or to improve durability
2. Applying a film or layer of silicon-based material onto an object to provide protection, enhance resistance to moisture, or alter surface properties
3. The act of impregnating or covering a material with silicon compounds to prevent damage from water or chemicals and improve overall performance

Etymology: Silicon takes its name from the Latin "silex," meaning flint or hard stone, the rock that chemists associated with the element's compounds. The element was named "silicium," and its English form "silicon" was given the "-on" ending by analogy with elements such as boron and carbon. "Siliconating" is a modern technical formation: silicon plus the "-ate" suffix, which chemists use to form verbs for treating or combining something with an element, as in "chlorinate." The verb's "-ing" ending marks it as the act of doing so, here applying silicon compounds to a surface.

Synonyms: siliconizing, siliconating, siliconating, silicon coating, silicon treatment

Antonyms: desiliconating, removing silicon