sublimate

[v. suhb-luh-meyt; n., adj. suhb-luh-mit, -meyt] /v. ˈsʌb ləˌmeɪt; n., adj. ˈsʌb lə mɪt, -ˌmeɪt/
verb (used with object), sublimated, sublimating.
1.
Psychology. to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.
2.
Chemistry.
  1. to sublime (a solid substance); extract by this process.
  2. to refine or purify (a substance).
3.
to make nobler or purer:
To read about great men sublimates ambition.
verb (used without object), sublimated, sublimating.
4.
to become sublimated; undergo sublimation.
noun
5.
Chemistry. the crystals, deposit, or material obtained when a substance is sublimated.
adjective
6.
purified or exalted; sublimated.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English: exalted, sublimated < Latin sublīmātus (past participle of sublīmāre to elevate), equivalent to sublīm(is) sublime + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
sublimable
[suhb-luh-muh-buh l] /ˈsʌb lə mə bəl/ (Show IPA), adjective
sublimableness, noun
sublimation, noun
desublimate, verb (used with object), desublimated, desublimating.
resublimate, verb (used with object), resublimated, resublimating.
supersublimated, adjective
unsublimated, adjective
Can be confused
sublimate, sublime.
Examples from the web for sublimate
  • Rdx, sublimate in vacuum, which limits their usefulness in aerospace applications.
British Dictionary definitions for sublimate

sublimate

/ˈsʌblɪˌmeɪt/
verb
1.
(psychol) to direct the energy of (a primitive impulse, esp a sexual one) into activities that are considered to be socially more acceptable
2.
(transitive) to make purer; refine
noun
3.
(chem) the material obtained when a substance is sublimed
adjective
4.
exalted or purified
Derived Forms
sublimable (ˈsʌbləməbəl) adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Latin sublīmāre to elevate, from sublīmis lofty; see sublime
Word Origin and History for sublimate
v.

1560s, from Latin sublimatus, past participle of sublimare (see sublimation). Related: Sublimated; sublimating.

sublimate in Medicine

sublimate sub·li·mate (sŭb'lə-māt')
v. sub·li·mat·ed, sub·li·mat·ing, sub·li·mates

  1. To transform directly from the solid to the gaseous state or from the gaseous to the solid state without becoming a liquid.

  2. To modify the natural expression of an instinctual impulse, especially a sexual one, in a socially acceptable manner.