deliquesce Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb melt away in the process of decay
    • The fungi eventually deliquesced
  2. verb melt or become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
    • this type of salt deliquesces easily

WordNet

Del`i*quesce" intransitive verb
Etymology
L. deliquescere to melt, dissolve; de- + liquescere to become fluid, melt, fr. liquere to be fluid. See Liquid.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Deliquesced ; present participle & verbal noun Deliquescing
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) To dissolve gradually and become liquid by attracting and absorbing moisture from the air, as certain salts, acids, and alkalies.
    In very moist air crystals of strontites deliquesce. Black.

Webster 1913