Flocculation

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Flocculation \Floc`cu*la"tion\, n. (Geol.)
     1. The process by which small particles of fine soils and
        sediments aggregate into larger lumps.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The process or event in which masses of a solid substance


        of perceptible size form in a liquid by aggregation of
        smaller particles, and usually sediment to the bottom of
        the containing vessel; as, addition of a cationic polymer
        can cause flocculation of a negatively charged colloidal
        suspension.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  flocculation
       n : the process of flocculating; forming woolly cloudlike
           aggregations