Congealment: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this term to describe the process of a liquid becoming thick or solid due to cooling or freezing. It's often used in culinary contexts, such as when fat hardens after cooling.

• The congealment of the soup made it unappealing.
• After leaving the gravy out, its congealment was noticeable.

Solidification broadly refers to the process of becoming solid, typically used in contexts like material science, metallurgy, and general descriptions of substances changing from liquid to solid.

• The solidification of lava forms volcanic rock.
• Metal solidification in molds is crucial in the manufacturing process.

This term is more scientific and usually references the process of blood clotting or the transformation of a liquid into a thicker or solid state due to chemical action.

• The coagulation of blood is essential for wound healing.
• Coagulation occurs when milk turns into cheese.

Used primarily in a scientific or medical context to describe the process of a liquid becoming solid or semi-solid, especially through cooling or loss of moisture.

• The congealment of blood can be an indication of clotting.
• The soup underwent congealment after being left out overnight.

Applicable in both everyday and scientific language to describe the act of making something more solid or firm, whether it be a physical substance or an abstract concept. It often implies a deliberate process.

• The melted chocolate is slowly solidifying as it cools.
• The company's new policy is solidifying its position in the market.

Often used in a physical context to describe something becoming rigid or less flexible. This term may also carry a negative connotation when discussing bodily parts or structures losing flexibility.

• The dough is stiffening because it has been overworked.
• He felt his muscles stiffening after the long run.