ˌsachəˈrāshən noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Late Latin saturation-, saturatio, from Latin saturatus (past participle of saturare to saturate) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : complete satiety or glut : contentment , surfeit
moving from stable saturation to … restlessness, and instability — A.L.Kroeber
become familiar, to the point of saturation … with the subject matter — John Dewey
2. : conversion of an unsaturated chemical compound to a saturated one — compare hydrogenation a
3.
a. : the quality or state of being soaked or steeped : permeation
water … fills all pores and openings within the zone of saturation — A.M.Bateman
that saturation with the years that for Europe is synonymous with cultural meaning — Harold Rosenberg
b. : impregnation to the maximum extent: as
(1) : the presence in air of as much water vapor per unit volume as possible at a given temperature
(2) : magnetization to the point beyond which a further increase in the intensity of the magnetizing force will produce no further magnetization and only an equal increase in the magnetic flux density in the body
(3) : the condition in which all the electrons in an electron tube flow to the plate as fast as they are emitted by the filament, an increase of plate or grid voltage producing no increase of current
c. : the quality or state of being filled to capacity
without drastic regulation of traffic, our streets … will reach a point of saturation — Hal Burton
4.
a. : chromatic purity : freedom from dilution with white : intensity , vividness
a dull red lacking in saturation
b.
(1) : degree of difference from the gray having the same lightness — used of an object color
(2) : degree of difference from the achromatic light-source color of the same brightness — used of a light-source color
5.
a. : the supplying of a market with goods sufficient to meet all present and prospective demands at current prices
falling off of refrigerator sales due to market saturation
b. : a widespread coverage of an area (as by personnel or promotional material)
spot announcements used in metropolitan areas in varying degrees of saturation
saturation of a tough neighborhood with police patrols
c. : the ratio of public acceptance
electric cooking … has been developed to a saturation of 23 percent — Electric World
d. : the limit of consumer capacity
television set ownership … is now less than forty percent short of saturation — Philip Minoff
6. : a concentration of military forces or firepower sufficient to overwhelm or completely wipe out enemy defenses
a logical target for quick saturation by parachute troops — George Weller
7. : the supposed increased resemblance to the sire of successive offspring of the same parents — compare telegony