photolyzed
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: //ˈfoʊtəˌlaɪzd//
KK: /fōˈtälīzd/
adjective
Definition
Describing something that has undergone a process where light breaks down a substance.
Example
The photolyzed compound showed different chemical properties than the original.
Conversation
Did you see that experiment with the photolyzed sample yesterday?
Yeah! It was fascinating to watch how the light changed things.
I didn't realize how much could change in a photolyzed material until then.
Right? Science really has some surprising effects.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
decomposed
dissociated
broken
Antonyms
intact
whole
unbroken
verb
Definition
To break down a substance using light energy, typically in a chemical reaction.
Example
The chemical compound was photolyzed under ultraviolet light to study its properties.
Tense Forms
Past: photolyzed
Past Participle: photolyzed
Conversation
Did you know that some chemicals can be photolyzed by sunlight?
Really? I never thought about how light could change things like that.
Yeah, it's fascinating how nature works, isn't it?
Root Explanation
Photolyzed → It is formed from "photo-" (from Greek "phōs", meaning light) and "lyzed" (from Greek "lyzein", meaning to loosen or break down). The word "photolyzed" refers to a process where a substance is broken down or altered by the action of light.
Memory Tip
Think of 'light' ('photo-') causing something to 'break down' ('lyzed') — that's how photolyzed means altered by light.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.