coagulation

noun

co·​ag·​u·​la·​tion kō-ˌa-gyə-ˈlā-shən 

: the process of becoming viscous or thickened into a coherent mass : the forming of clots (as in blood or cream) : the process of coagulating

… an incision is made on the skin of the forearm with a spring-loaded device, and the time to coagulation is measured.

—Lawrence L. K. Leung

Examples of coagulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet the practices that go into cleaning water and ensuring its safety, including coagulation, sedimentation, and treatment, aren’t new. —Nina Elkadi, JSTOR Daily, 2 Oct. 2024

There is no better coagulation of the decades of comic-book history and Peter Parker characterization than this 2008 cartoon, one that over the span of 26 episodes made its mark as an almost untouchable series with distinctly fluid animation. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024

Your healthcare provider may prescribe blood thinners to treat or lower the risk of developing blood clots (also known as coagulation). —Steffini Stalos, Health, 25 July 2024

The researchers looked at over 10 disease categories: cardiovascular, coagulation and hematologic, fatigue, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and pulmonary. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 18 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coagulation

• coagulation factor

Medical Definition

coagulation

noun

co·​ag·​u·​la·​tion kō-ˌag-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

a

: a change to a viscous, jellylike, or solid state

especially : a change from a liquid to a thickened curdlike state not by evaporation but by chemical reaction

the spontaneous coagulation of freshly drawn blood

the coagulation of milk by rennin

b

: the process by which such change of state takes place consisting of the alteration of a soluble substance (as a protein) into an insoluble form or of the flocculation or separation of colloidal or suspended matter

2

: a substance or body formed by coagulation : coagulum

3

: disruption of tissue by physical means (as by application of an electric current) so that denaturation and clumping of protein occur

diathermic coagulation of tissues during surgery to seal bleeding blood vessels

see electrocoagulation, photocoagulation