Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Effloresce
Efˊflo-resce′
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Effloresced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Efflorescing
.] [L.
efflorescere
to bloom, blossom; ex
+ florescere
to begin to blossom, incho., fr. florere
to blossom, fr. flos
a flower. See Flower
.] 1.
To blossom forth.
Carlyle.
2.
(Chem.)
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
3.
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 of nitric acid formed in the atmosphereWebster 1828 Edition
Effloresce
EFFLORESCE
,Verb.
T.
1.
In chimistry, to form a mealy powder on the surface; to become pulverulent or dusty on the surface. Substances effloresce by losing their water of crystallization.Those salts whose crystals effloresce, belong to the class which is most soluble, and crystalize by cooling.
2.
To form saline vegetation on the surface; or rather to shoot out minute spicular crystals; as the efflorescence of salts on plaster.