Flocculation
/ˌflɒk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/noun
The process by which suspended particles gather into loose clusters or flakes, often so they can settle or be filtered out.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin floccus, meaning a tuft of wool, because the particle clusters resemble tiny soft tufts.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
floccus
“A tuft or lock of wool; a small mass of fibers”
Late Latin
Latin
flocculus
“A little tuft or small woolly mass”
19th Century
English
flocculate
“To form into small loose masses or tufts”
19th Century
English
flocculation
“The formation of suspended particles into loose clusters”
Modern English
English
flocculation
“Particle aggregation used in chemistry, water treatment, mining, and industrial processing”