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Encrustation: meaning, definitions and examples

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encrustation

 

[ ɛnˈkrʌs.teɪ.ʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

physical formation

Encrustation refers to the process of forming a crust or a hard outer layer on a surface. This phenomenon can happen on various materials such as rocks, metals, and even living organisms like shells or corals. The encrustation process plays a significant role in the natural world, influencing the durability and appearance of surfaces. It can also indicate environmental changes or impacts due to the accumulation of substances on a surface. Encrustation is commonly used in geology, biology, and industrial applications.

Synonyms

covering, crust, deposit, layer, sheath

Examples of usage

  • The encrustation of barnacles on the boat hull is a common issue.
  • Encrustation on the rocks made them slippery and unsafe.
  • The scientists studied the encrustation of certain marine organisms.

Translations

Translations of the word "encrustation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incrustação

🇮🇳 क्रस्टेशन

🇩🇪 Einschluss

🇮🇩 perkaratan

🇺🇦 енкрустація

🇵🇱 inkrustacja

🇯🇵 エンクルステーション

🇫🇷 encrustation

🇪🇸 incrustación

🇹🇷 enkristalizasyon

🇰🇷 부착

🇸🇦 تغطية

🇨🇿 inkrustace

🇸🇰 inkrustácia

🇨🇳 镶嵌

🇸🇮 inkrustacija

🇮🇸 innfelling

🇰🇿 инкрустация

🇬🇪 ინკრუსტაცია

🇦🇿 enkristasiya

🇲🇽 incrustación

Word origin

The term 'encrustation' originates from the early 19th century, derived from the French word 'encruster' which means 'to crust over'. The root of the word can be traced back to the Latin 'crusta', meaning 'a crust'. Initially, the word was used in scientific contexts to describe natural phenomena where surfaces become covered with a hard layer due to environmental processes. Over time, 'encrustation' expanded to include a variety of contexts, from geology and biology to more metaphorical uses in literature, where it describes any form of surface accumulation or layering. Its evolution reflects the increasing interest in natural sciences and the understanding of how different processes affect material and organic surfaces.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,375, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.