-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).

Krista suffered an abarticulation of her knee when she fell while skateboarding.

1. The result of reducing something, such as a form or a short summary: The Executive Summary of the report was a good abbreviation of the full financial report.
2. A shortened form of a spoken word, or written symbol; a part of a word or symbol standing for the whole: There are many abbreviations for title words and one common abbreviation is Mr. for Mister.

A very familiar abbreviation is "etc." which is 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: Because Voni was experiencing pains in her stomach, Dr. Black performed an abdominal examination to see what was causing Voni's symptoms of discomfort.
2. The physical evaluation of a patient's midsection with visual inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation: An abdominal examination includes the visual examination of the normally oval shape of the abdominal surface while the patient is lying on his or her back which 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 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, the tapping of a part of the body for diagnostic purposes, helps to determination the condition of internal organs while palpation, or 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 of the club 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 indicate 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 removal or an abnormal departure in leaving a place that is either excessive or deficient: In the time of the flood crisis, Louis 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. Dislodgment, 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.

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

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

There is considerable research in the area of ablactation which makes available appropriate information for the nourishment of human infants and for the 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 by wearing or wasting away: Melting and the breaking off of a mass of ice from its parent glacier or ice shelf are ablations that icebergs undergo during the summer months.
3. In aerospace, the dissipation of heat generated by aerial friction: There are ablations in atmospheric reentries of spacecrafts or missiles with the use of melting heat shields.

1. The renunciation of a person's own interests in favor of the interests of others: Some religions have days of fasting and so abnegation involves the giving up of 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.

Samuel's sudden abnegation of a wild life to become a Christian missionary was a great surprise for everyone who knew him.

2. The denial and rejection of a doctrine or a belief: There are those who have an abnegation of the existence of God.
3. Etymology: from Latin abnegare, "to refuse, to deny"; from ab-, "off, away from" + negare, "to deny". © ALL rights are reserved.

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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.

Congress was expected to have an abrogation of the tax law.

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 stresses on certain syllables in words when spoken or written: "The word before has the accentuation on the last syllable."
2. The act of giving special importance or significance to something: "There was a great deal of accentuation on learning more vocabulary in Mr. Rodger's class."

The usual favorable, valid, or agreeable meaning: "The acceptation of the word's meaning and application was approved by Jim's teacher."

1. Loud expression of approval or the overwhelming approval of a choice without a ballot or an election: The interim governor of the state was appointed by acclamation as everyone enthusiastically approved of her appointment.
2. An act of applause or praise: The acclamations by the crowd when the baseball player hit a home run was enthusiastic and overwhelming.