condense

Condense is a verb with several related meanings. In general usage, to condense means to make something denser, more compact, or shorter; to bring elements together or concentrate them; and to express ideas in a more concise form. The word derives from Latin condensare, from densus dense, with the prefix con- meaning together.

In the physical sciences, condensation refers to a phase transition in which a substance changes from a gas to a liquid (and in some cases to a solid), usually driven by cooling or increased pressure. The process releases latent heat. In meteorology, condensation of water vapor forms clouds, fog, and dew, with concepts such as the dew point and atmospheric humidity. Industrially, vapors can be condensed to recover liquids or to remove solvents in various processes.

In information processing and writing, to condense means to reduce a text or message to its essential points, producing a summary or abridgment. Condensing requires selecting key ideas, removing redundant or superfluous detail, and often reorganizing material to preserve meaning and coherence. In data handling, condensation can describe reducing data size while preserving information content, though technical contexts may prefer terms like compression or encoding.

Condensation also appears in chemistry as a condensation reaction, where two molecules join with the loss of a small molecule such as water. The term is closely related to condensed matter physics, a field that studies the properties of solids and liquids, including phase transitions and collective phenomena associated with condensation.