-ation, -ization (-iz[e] + -ation); -isation (British spelling variation)

In anatomy, the dislocation of a joint in the body: "Abarticulation is a medical term which is sometimes used as a reference to diarthrosis (ability of some joints of the body to move in several directions), and also for synarthrosis (rigid joint formed by the union of two bones and connected by fibrous tissue)."

1. The result of reducing something; such as, a form or a short summary: "There are many abbreviations for title words; one common abbreviation is Mr. for Mister."
2. A shortened form of a spoken word, or written symbol; a part of a word or symbol standing for the whole: "A very familiar abbreviation is etc.; the abbreviation for et cetera; meaning, 'and the rest', 'and others', 'and so forth' which is used at the end of a list to indicate that 'other items of the same class or type should be considered or included'."

1. A hands-on evaluation of the abdominal cavity to identify abnormalities, if there are any, based on a change in size, shape, consistency, or sound on percussion of the organs found inside.
2. The physical evaluation of a patient's abdomen with visual inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.

The visual examination of the normally oval shape of the abdominal surface while the patient is lying on his or her back may reveal abnormal surface features indicating the effects of a disease, surgery, or injury.

Below the surface tumors, fluid accumulation, or hypertrophy of the liver or spleen may be seen as an abnormal surface feature.

Auscultation or listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope) may reveal vascular sounds that provide information about arterial disorders; such as, aortic aneurysms (any swelling) of the aorta and bowel sounds that indicate intestinal function.

In a pregnant patient, auscultation can detect fetal heartbeat and blood circulation in the placenta.

Percussion (tapping a part of the body for diagnostic purposes) helps to determination the condition of internal organs while palpation (feeling the size, shape, or firmness of body parts) is used to detect areas of tenderness or rigidity, muscle tone and skin condition, and the shapes and sizes of organs or masses under the surface of the skin.

1. A wandering or straying away; a departure or deviation from what is considered normal or from the socially recognized path: "The horror novel was considered an aberration as far as the tastes of the reading public were concerned."

"The new rules were confusing and full of aberrations."

2. A defect in a lens or mirror, causing a distorted image or one with colored edges: "The blurred photographs indicated that Ron's camera has a lens with an aberration."

"The flaw in a lens that doesn't focus properly is called a spherical aberration."

3. In astronomy, a small periodic change in the apparent position of a star or other astronomical object, caused by the motion of the earth around the sun: "The astronomer noticed an unusual aberration in the constellations of the Northern Hemisphere."

"In astronomy, an aberration is an apparent displacement in the position of a celestial object as a result of the time it takes for light from the object to reach an earthbound observer and to the orbital motion of the earth during that time."

4. A disorder or abnormal alteration in one's mental state: "Three authors got together to see how many aberrations they could include in the Worst Novel of the Year."

"The only aberration that Marcia's mother has is an occasional lapse of memory."

1. A partial evacuation or an abnormal evacuation (leaving a place), that is either excessive or deficient: "In the time of the flood crisis, the farmer may have been too slow in undertaking the abevacuation of his farm animals to higher ground."

"The fire fighters were experienced in managing abevacuations under critical circumstances."

2. Evacuations, or removals, through abnormal channels: "Some grave diggers performed abevacuations at night."

1. Diminution or abolition of irritability in a body part: "A good meal and pleasant background music are abirritations that really sooth Ida's irritations and bad temper."
2. A lack or loss of strength and energy; weakness: "Being ill for several weeks brought about a general abirritation in Frank's sister that made her listless and sad."

1. The solemn repudiation, abandonment, or renunciation by or upon oath; often the renunciation of citizenship or some other right or privilege: "The abjuration of Vera's citizenship where she was born made it possible for her to become a citizen in a new country."
2. Denials, disavowals, or renunciations under oath; "In common ecclesiastical language abjuration is restricted to the renunciation of heresy made by the penitent heretic on the occasion of his reconciliation with the Catholic Church."

"The many adjurations of the alleged witch convinced the clergy that she was sincere and penitent."

The weaning of a child from nursing or the cessation of milk secretion: "There was an ablactation or substitution of other food for the mother's milk in the diet of her baby."

"The nurse provided an educational booklet to the new mothers about the ablactation of infants."

"There are many ablactations available to provide appropriate nourishment for human infants and other young of mammals."

1. Surgical excisions, removals, or amputations of body parts or tissues: "The doctor specialized in the ablation of tumors on the lungs."
2. The erosive processes by which a glacier is reduced; wearing or wasting away: "Melting and the breaking off of a mass of ice from its parent glacier, iceberg, or ice shelf are ablations that ice bergs undergo during the summer months."
3. In aerospace, the dissipation of heat generated by atmospheric friction: "There are ablations in atmospheric re-entries of spacecrafts or missiles with the use of melting heat shields."

The renunciation of a person's own interests in favor of the interests of others: "Some religions have fast days and so abnegation involves the giving up all food or anything a person likes to eat in order to follow the rules and requirements of his or her beliefs."

"The Vice Principal's abnegation of her position to allow for the promotion of a younger person was admired by all."

"The Board of Directors was faced with a couple of uncertainties regarding the abnegations of the entire staff at the shelter for women."

1. The cancellation or nullification of something in a formal and official way: "The abrogation of the treaty took place when there was evidence which suggested that the other nations had failed to honor the agreements."
2. An official or legal cancellation because of the failure of someone to do what is required: "The company lost the government contract when the abrogation of their costs of construction exceeded the limits."

In acoustical engineering, a type of amplitude modulation that couples a variable-impedance device; such as, a microphone, to the output stage of a radio transmitter.

Energy is thus absorbed from the transmitter according to the information captured by the microphone.

1. The rate at which something increases in velocity.
2. An increase in the rate at which something happens or develops.

1. The use or application of an accent; such as, the relative prominence of syllables in a phrase or utterance.
2. The act of giving special importance or significance to something: "There was a great deal of accentuation on learning more vocabulary in his class."