Verstäuben

Verstäuben is a German verb that denotes the dispersion of fine solid particles or droplets into a gas, so that they form an aerosol or spray. The word combines the prefix ver- with stauben (to dust) and is most common in technical and industrial contexts rather than everyday speech. In practice, verstäuben describes processes that break up a bulk material into a fine, airborne distribution, or that cause existing material to become cloudy with suspended particles.

Applications and contexts include industrial and scientific settings as well as consumer uses. In manufacturing and engineering, verstäuben describes atomization and spray processes such as spray drying, aerosol generation, powder coating, and nozzle-based dispersal of powders. In agriculture, it can refer to applying pesticides, fertilizers, or other treatments as a fine spray or mist, often with air assistance to improve coverage. In cosmetics, verstäuben can mean applying loose powder to the skin.

Related concepts in German include atomisierung (atomization) and nebulisation (nebulization) as well as the broader idea of aerosol generation. The term can also appear in metaphorical usage, for example when describing something as verstaubt (dusty) or situations that have verstaubt become neglected or forgotten.