condensed

Condensed is an adjective meaning made denser or more concentrated, with less volume. It can describe substances that have been compressed or reduced in size, as well as forms that have been shortened or summarized.

In science, condensation refers to the phase transition by which a gas becomes a liquid, releasing energy. The term condensed matter physics denotes the branch of physics that studies solids and liquids, including crystals, liquids, and emergent phenomena like superconductivity and magnetism. The discipline emphasizes the collective behavior of many-body systems and often employs statistical mechanics and quantum theory.

Common uses include condensed milk, a dairy product with water removed and sugar added; and condensed soups or foods that are shipped in a concentrated form to be reconstituted. In publishing or media, a condensed version or condensed book is a shorter retelling or abridgment of a longer work.

Related terms include condensation, the process of becoming liquid from a gas, and concentrate, which refers to a more intensely reduced form, though the two are not interchangeable in all contexts. The word has Latin roots in condensare, meaning to press together.