fractionatev.
/ˈfrakʃəneɪt/, /ˈfrakʃn̩eɪt/, U.S. /ˈfrækʃəˌneɪt/ 1.
a. transitive. To separate (a mixture) by distillation or otherwise into portions of differing properties.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > subject to chemical reactions or processes [verb (transitive)] > subject to named chemical reaction or process > subject to fermentation > subject to fractionation
fractionate1867
1867 [see fractionated adj. at Derivatives].
1894 Nature 23 Aug. 410/2 By fractionating Russian petroleum the author had obtained hydrocarbons [etc.].
b. gen. = fractionalize v.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > divide [verb (transitive)] > into fractions
fractionize1675
fractionalize1947
fractionate1961
1961 Webster's 3rd New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1963 C. D. Simak They walked like Men xxvi. 155 Might there not be no more than a single one of them, with that one fractionated into units the size of bowling balls?
1965 Listener 12 Aug. 233/2 We spend much of our time fractionating living matter. We break it up with sonic oscillations..or by chilling it in solid carbon dioxide and hitting it with a hammer.
1970 Sci. Jrnl. Apr. 5/1 Pollution matters beat even space activities for the extent to which they are fractionated between different departments—no less than 12 are involved.
2. intransitive. To break up into fractions.
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the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > action of dividing or divided condition > divide [verb (intransitive)] > into fractions
fractionate1957
1957 G. E. Hutchinson Treat. Limnol. I. viii. 543 If the drop fractionates, small daughter drops may be carried to the top of the cloud in an updraft.
Derivatives
ˈfractionated adj.
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1867 W. R. Bowditch Coal Gas 5 These heavy oils were obtained by passing the gas over carefully fractionated pure light coal oils.
ˈfractionating adj. and n. ; fractionating column, a long vertical chamber for fractionating liquids in which vapour from a still passes upwards to a condenser and mixes intimately with falling condensate on the way, so becoming enriched in the lower-boiling fractions.
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the world > matter > chemistry > equipment or apparatus > [noun] > distillation apparatus
bodya1400
descensoryc1405
circulatory1559
receiver1576
bolt-glass1594
adopter1741
Woulfe's apparatus1800
alcogene1828
fractionating column1908
1908 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 94 ii. 17 (heading) A Fractionating Column... A condenser is provided inside the top of the..apparatus, and the distilled liquid is collected at the lower part, being returned to the distillation flask or run off as desired.
1922 C. S. Robinson Elem. Fract. Distill. iii. 17 The second general method by which fractionating can be obtained, is fractional condensation.
1952 M. L. Smith & K. W. Stinson Fuels & Combustion i. 22 The vapors are passed into the fractionating column where the oil is separated into several fractions.
1970 R. M. E. Diamant Appl. Chem. Engineers (ed. 2) xiv. 248 The degree of separation of the liquid into upper and lower fractions depends upon the number of plates or the length of the fractionating column.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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