# condensation

/ˌkɑndənˈseɪʃən/ (US) · /kɒndɪnsˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/condensation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. water droplets

noun · CEFR B2

the small drops of water that form on a cold surface when it touches warm, wet air.

For teachers: the conversion of a vapour or gas to a liquid, typically occurring when it comes into contact with a cooler surface.

- In the morning, there was heavy condensation on the inside of the bedroom windows.
- Poor ventilation in the kitchen often leads to significant condensation, which can eventually cause mould to grow on the walls.

### 2. shortened text

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a shorter version of a book, speech, or piece of writing.

For teachers: the act of reducing a text or idea to a more concise form while retaining its essential meaning.

- The editor provided a brief condensation of the long report for the manager.
- The author's latest work is a masterful condensation of decades of research into a single, readable volume.

### 3. chemical reaction

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of chemical reaction where two molecules join together and lose a smaller molecule, like water.

For teachers: a chemical reaction in which two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, with the simultaneous loss of a small molecule such as water or methanol.

- The plastic is formed through a condensation reaction between two different chemicals.
- Polymers like nylon are typically synthesised via condensation polymerisation, releasing water as a byproduct during the process.

### 4. psychology/dreams

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when one image or idea in a dream represents several different things at once.

For teachers: a process in which a single manifest dream image represents multiple latent ideas or associations.

- The therapist explained that the house in his dream was a condensation of his childhood home and his current office.
- Freudian theory posits that condensation is one of the primary methods by which the 'dream-work' disguises forbidden desires.

## Examples

- Wipe the condensation off the window so you can see outside.
- Without proper ventilation in the bathroom, condensation will eventually lead to mould growth on the ceiling.
- The physicist explained that condensation occurs when water vapour molecules lose kinetic energy upon hitting a cold surface, causing them to bond together into liquid droplets.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.