torrefaction

Latin torrefaciō.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌtɔ.ɹɪ.ˈfæk.ʃən/
• Rhymes: -ækʃən

torrefaction (countable and uncountable, plural torrefactions)

1. Drying or roasting; especially an anaerobic heat treatment to make wood waterproof.
   • 1809, Andrew Grant, History of Brazil, page 142:

     During this operation the insects are constantly stirred about with a tin ladle; and sometimes water is sprinkled upon them, to prevent absolute torrefaction, which would destroy the colour, and reduce them to a coal ;

   • 2011, Luis Puigjaner, Syngas from Waste: Emerging Technologies, page 11:

     Pelletization is a proven technology for improving biomass properties, whereas torrefaction is considered a plausible alternative for decreasing the moisture content, increasing the energy density and greatly facilitating the handleability and grindability properties of the torrefied material.

   • 2013, Prabir Basu, Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction, page 98:

     After the biomass is dried, it needs to be heated further to the designed torrefaction temperature.

2. (more generally) The act or process of subjecting something to heat or to highly acidic substances.
   • 1806, The Critical Review, Or, Annals of Literature, page 387:

     They now began by a change of diet and other precautions to prepare themselves to encounter the torrefaction of a tropical climate, and in somewhat more than a fortnight arrived in Carlisle Bay in the island of Barbadoes, which was appointed the general rendezvous of the expedition.

   • 1883, The Popular Science Monthly - Volume 23, page 314:

     The walls of the stomach are lined with a nerve-interwoven delicat membrane, which suffers from scalding fluids as much as any other tegumental tissues of the body, and by daily torrefactions becomes either callous or chronically inflamed, and in either case less fit for the performance of its important functions.

   • 1967, Henry Oldenburg, Alfred Rupert Hall, Marie Boas Hall, 1667-1668, page 360:

     Men of both these types abound in medicine especially, aside from the great mass of the unlearned, who, if perchance they have heard some mechanistic explanation of Descartes's and badly comprehended it (for indeed the whole system of Descartes is far above their heads), or if (bemused by the tricks of certain smoke-peddlers) they have learned to make some trifle at great cost with the aid of an evil-smelling torrefaction, they declare themselves not merely philosophers but the only wise men and cultivators of true medicine.

   • 1986, Noel George Butlin, R. H. Scott, V. W. Fitzgerald, The Australian Economist: 1893-1898 - Volumes 2-6, page 481:

     And in spite of all our professors of torrefaction — to borrow a phrase from Grant Allen — and our demonstrations of cookery, not one woman in fifty can boil rice, or be trusted to grill a chop when it is easier to fry it.

   • 2013, Clark Ashton Smith, Told in the Desert:

     The face of the man was withered and blackened as by the torrefaction of a thousand flames; his beard was grey as ashes; and his eyes were expiring embers.

3. (figurative) An angry outburst; vituperation.
   • 1699, John Edwards, A compleat history:

     Some Commentators take no notice of this Parallel, but certainly it is not to be omitted, nay it is of very great moment; and the manner of speech very fitly and significantly expresses the Heat, the Height of God's wrath kindled against Sinners; We see this Torrefaction is adapted to the usual language of Scripture, where the Extremity of the Divine Anger against the wicked is set forth by fire, with which (saith the Learned and Pious Bochart) it behoved Christ to be as it were scorched and burnt, who had made himself a Surety for Sinners, that he might undergo the Punishment which they deserved.

   • 1905, American Medicine - Volume 10, page 936:

     Under such torrefaction the doctor suffered an ebullition of his anger and he replied : “You are rather pachycephalic not to understand what I have said.

• (drying or roasting): torrification

• torrefy