extinction

[ ik-stingk-shuh n ]
/ ɪkˈstɪŋk ʃən /

noun

Origin of extinction

1375–1425; late Middle English extinccio(u)n < Latin ex(s)tinctiōn- (stem of ex(s)tinctiō). See extinct, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM extinction

non·ex·tinc·tion, noun pre·ex·tinc·tion, noun self-ex·tinc·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for extinction

British Dictionary definitions for extinction

extinction
/ (ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən) /

noun

the act of making extinct or the state of being extinct
the act of extinguishing or the state of being extinguished
complete destruction; annihilation
physics reduction of the intensity of radiation as a result of absorption or scattering by matter
astronomy the dimming of light from a celestial body as it passes through an absorbing or scattering medium, such as the earth's atmosphere or interstellar dust
psychol a process in which the frequency or intensity of a learned response is decreased as a result of reinforcement being withdrawn Compare habituation

Medical definitions for extinction

extinction
[ ĭk-stĭngkshən ]

n.

Progressive reduction in the strength of the conditioned response in successive conditioning trials during which only the conditioned stimulus is presented and the unconditioned stimulus is omitted. absorbance

Scientific definitions for extinction

extinction
[ ĭk-stĭngkshən ]

The fact of being extinct or the process of becoming extinct. See more at background extinction mass extinction.
A progressive decrease in the strength of a conditioned response, often resulting in its elimination, because of withdrawal of a specific stimulus.

Cultural definitions for extinction

extinction

The disappearance of a species from the Earth.

notes for extinction

The fossil record tells us that 99.9 percent of all species that ever lived are now extinct.