Rectifizieren

Rectifizieren is a German verb meaning to correct, adjust, or restore something to a proper or desired state. In everyday language it denotes correcting factual errors, misstatements, or data.

In electrical engineering, rectifizieren refers to the conversion of alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) using rectifiers such as diodes or thyristor bridges. The resulting DC power can be described as half-wave or full-wave rectified, depending on the circuit configuration.

In chemical engineering and distillation practice, Rectifikation or Rectifizierung denotes the purification of a liquid by repeated distillation, typically in a fractionating column. Through multiple vaporization–condensation cycles with a controlled reflux, impurities are separated according to boiling points.

In cartography, geodesy and photogrammetry, rectifikation denotes the transformation of map or image coordinates to a standard reference frame. Kartenrectifikation (rectification of maps) or image rectification aligns historical or oblique data with true ground coordinates using ground-control points and mathematical transformations.

In mathematics, rectifikation of a curve is the process of constructing a straight line segment whose length equals the arc length of the given curve. It is a classical topic in differential geometry and analysis.

The term derives from Latin rectus “upright, straight” and is used across disciplines with domain-specific nuances. In German, related nouns include Rectifikation/Rectifizierung, while the everyday sense centers on correction, adjustment, or purification as appropriate to the context.