physical change

/ˌfɪzɪkəl tʃeɪndʒ/

Other forms: physical changes

Definitions of physical change

1. noun

   a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
   synonyms: phase change, phase transition, state change

   types:

   freeze, freezing

   the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid

   liquefaction

   the conversion of a solid or a gas into a liquid

   melt, melting, thaw, thawing

   the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid

   evaporation, vapor, vaporisation, vaporization, vapour

   the process of becoming a vapor

   boiling

   the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas

   clouding, clouding up

   the process whereby water particles become visible in the sky

   dissolution, dissolving

   the process of going into solution

   freeze-drying, lyophilisation, lyophilization

   a method of drying food or blood plasma or pharmaceuticals or tissue without destroying their physical structure; material is frozen and then warmed in a vacuum so that the ice sublimes

   frost, icing

   the formation of frost or ice on a surface

   smoke, smoking

   a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion

   type of:

   action, activity, natural action, natural process

   a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)