reverse osmosis

noun

Chemistry.

the process in which pure water is produced by forcing waste or saline water through a semipermeable membrane.

reverse osmosis

noun

a technique for purifying water, in which pressure is applied to force liquid through a semipermeable membrane in the opposite direction to that in normal osmosis

reverse osmosis

A method of producing pure water by forcing saline or impure water through a semipermeable membrane across which salts or impurities cannot pass. Reverse osmosis is used for water filtration, for desalinization of seawater, and in kidney dialysis machines.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of reverse osmosis¹

First recorded in 1950–55

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Compare Meanings

How does reverse osmosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

osmosis vs. reverse osmosis

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Pitcher filters are simple, but their long-term cost can be higher than that of adsorption or reverse osmosis filters installed under the sink.

From

Typically, he added, they can be treated using activated carbon and reverse osmosis.

From

A massive sewage recycling program purifies wastewater through microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet irradiation, adding to drinking supply reservoirs.

From

However, the amount of PET was dwarfed by the amount of polyamides, a form of nylon used in the reverse osmosis filters that water is run through before bottling.

From

Rather than the liquid flowing through the membrane head-on, reverse osmosis uses cross-flow filtration.

From

reverse lightning reverse plate

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