Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act or process of conveying; transmission.
  • noun Heat transfer in a gas or liquid by the circulation of currents from one region to another.
  • noun Fluid motion caused by an external force such as gravity.
  • noun Meteorology The transfer of heat or other atmospheric properties by massive motion within the atmosphere, especially by such motion directed upward.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of carrying or conveying; specifically, the transference of heat or electricity through the change of position of the heated or electrified body: distinguished from conduction (which see).
  • noun by liberation of the latent heat of evaporation which remains with the aqueous vapor contained in the air until it is liberated by condensation into cloud. In so far as the liberated heat remains in the cloud, it may be consumed in reëvaporating the cloudy particles or be lost by radiation; in so far as it is brought down to the earth with the rain or snow, it affects the local climate powerfully.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act or process of conveying or transmitting.
  • noun (Physics) A process of transfer or transmission, as of heat or electricity, by means of currents in liquids or gases, resulting from changes of temperature and other causes.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The process of conveying something.
  • noun physics The transmission of heat in a fluid or gas by the circulation of currents.
  • noun meteorology The vertical movement of heat and moisture, especially by updrafts and downdrafts in an unstable air mass. The terms convection and thunderstorm are often used interchangeably, although thunderstorms are only one form of convection. Towering cumulus clouds are visible forms of convection.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the transfer of heat through a fluid (liquid or gas) caused by molecular motion
  • noun (meteorology) the vertical movement of heat or other properties by massive motion within the atmosphere

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Late Latin convectiō, convectiōn-, from convectus, past participle of convehere, to carry together : Latin com-, com- + Latin vehere, to carry; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin convectionem, from convectio ("act of carrying"), from convect-, past participle of convehere ("to carry together"), combination of com- and vehere.

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Examples

  • The term convection is often used to describe heat transfer that ccurs between a object and a fluid flowing across it.

    Heat transfer 2008

  • Sunspots are areas of intense magnetic power where thermal convection from the interior of the Sun has been inhibited.

    SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles - Part 1067 2009

  • Controlling convection is much more effective, in which case, a thin barrier of an inert gas such as CO2 works well.

    About: Blinded by Science 2010

  • Bubbles of air will begin to rise if they are warmer than the surrounding air – this is known as convection.

    Weatherwatch: how to forecast a storm 2011

  • -- Heat is transmitted through the air by what is called convection, that is, the particles of the air transmit it from one point to the next.

    Aeroplanes 1915

  • "It's so hot that it makes a kind of fire weather called a convection column.

    The Year's Best Science Fiction 23rd Annual Collection Dozois, Gardner 2006

  • Place the cookie sheets in the freezer for, according to Martha, at least 15 minutes, until firm (I had an appointment so mine were in the freezer for 2 hours). 15 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 350 F (325 F for convection, which is what I used).

    Bizcochitos Laura 2009

  • Place the cookie sheets in the freezer for, according to Martha, at least 15 minutes, until firm (I had an appointment so mine were in the freezer for 2 hours). 15 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 350 F (325 F for convection, which is what I used).

    Archive 2009-04-01 Laura 2009

  • Atmospheric circulation involves thermo-gravitational convection, which is inherently instable and in rotating frame of reference generates hurricanes and tornadoes.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

  • Atmospheric circulation involves thermo-gravitational convection, which is inherently instable and in rotating frame of reference generates hurricanes and tornadoes.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009

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