Medical Dictionary
Main Entry:
fu·sion Pronunciation:
'fyü-zh&n Function:
noun often attributive 1 a : the act or process of liquefying orrendering plastic by heat
b : the liquid or plastic state induced by heat
2 : a union by or as if by melting together: as
a : a merging of diverseelements into a unified whole;
specifically : the blending of retinal images in binocular vision
b : a combination of ingredients achieved by heating and mixingtogether
c (1)
: a blend of sensations, perceptions, ideas, or attitudes such that the component elements can seldom be identified by introspective analysis (2)
: theperception of light from a source that is intermittent above a critical frequency as if the source were continuous called also
flicker fusion; —compare
FLICKER d : the surgical immobilization of a joint —see SPINAL FUSION
3 : the union of atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei resulting in the release of enormousquantities of energy when certain light elements unite called also nuclear fusion —fu·sion·al /-&l/ adjective