photoinitiation

P3H4O1T1O1I1N1I1T1I1A1T1I1O1N1

noun

The photoproduction of a radical or ion that is capable of initiating a chain reaction; used especially to initiate polymerization

OriginEnglish initiation ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
Scrabble 20
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Meanings

nounphotoinitiation (plural photoinitiations)

plural photoinitiations

  1. chemistryThe photoproduction of a radical or ion that is capable of initiating a chain reaction; used especially to initiate polymerization

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishinitiation
  9. Englishphotoinitiation

From photo- + initiation.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photoinitiation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoinitiation

MLA

“photoinitiation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoinitiation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photoinitiation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoinitiation.

Source: photoinitiation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.