Meanings
noundecompression (usually uncountable, plural decompressions)
plural decompressions
- uncountableusuallyThe process of decompressing.
The decompression of large data files may take a while.
- uncountableusuallyThe restoration to atmospheric pressure of a person who has spent time under higher pressure (such as a diver).
- uncountableusuallyA mode of operation of some internal combustion engines which reduces the engine's compression ratio, making it easier to start but significantly increasing fuel consumption.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounrestoring compressed information to its normal form for use or display
Opposite
nounrelieving pressure (especially bringing a compressed person gradually back to atmospheric pressure)
Similar
Opposite
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*de
- Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
- Proto-Italic*dē
- Latindē
- Latindē-
- Englishde-
- Englishcompression
- Englishdecompression
From de- + compression.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan descompressió, descompressió
- descompressióprocess of decompressing
- descompressiórestoration to atmospheric pressure of a person
Chinese 減壓 /减压, 減壓 /减压/减压
- 減壓 /减压 (jiǎnyā)process of decompressing
- 減壓 /减压/减压 (jiǎnyā)restoration to atmospheric pressure of a person
French décompression, décompression
- décompressionprocess of decompressing
- décompressionrestoration to atmospheric pressure of a person
German Dekomprimierung, Dekompression
- Dekomprimierungprocess of decompressing
- Dekompressionprocess of decompressing
- Dekompressionrestoration to atmospheric pressure of a person
Italian decompressione, decompressione
- decompressioneprocess of decompressing
- decompressionerestoration to atmospheric pressure of a person
Japanese 減圧
- 減圧process of decompressing
Māori whakarohatanga
- whakarohatangaprocess of decompressing
Portuguese descompressão, descompressão
- descompressãoprocess of decompressing
- descompressãorestoration to atmospheric pressure of a person
Spanish descompresión
- descompresiónprocess of decompressing
Cite this entry
APA
decompression. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decompression
MLA
“decompression.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decompression. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “decompression,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/decompression.
Source: decompression on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.