Meaning & use
emanations
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“emanations” is a form of “emanation”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounusually pluralformalliterary
A feeling or quality that seems to spread out from a person, place, or thing.
Grammar: Often used in the plural with 'from': emanations from the old house. The singular 'emanation' is also correct for one instance.
Patterns
- emanations from someone or something
- an emanation of something
The room was full of warm emanations of welcome.
She sensed strange emanations coming from the abandoned church.
His letters carry the quiet emanations of a lonely man.
nounusually pluraltechnical
Something, such as light, heat, or gas, that is given off by a source.
Grammar: Common in scientific or technical writing, often followed by 'from': emanations from the reactor.
Patterns
- emanations from something
- radioactive emanations
Sensors recorded faint emanations from the damaged pipe.
The cave's mineral emanations made the air hard to breathe.
Scientists studied the heat emanations of the young star.
Word forms
| singular | emanation |
|---|
Common combinations
- strange emanations
- Neighbors reported strange emanations from the empty building at night.
- emanations from something
- The device measures emanations from the soil.
- faint emanations
- Only faint emanations of light reached the cave floor.
- radioactive emanations
- Workers were checked for radioactive emanations after the leak.
- emanations of goodwill
- Her speech gave off emanations of goodwill that calmed the crowd.
Synonyms and how they differ
- radiation
- Use 'radiation' for measurable energy such as heat or light; 'emanations' is vaguer and often suggests something mysterious.
- vibes
- 'Vibes' is informal and means feelings you get from a person or place; 'emanations' is formal and literary.
- aura
- An 'aura' is a single surrounding quality, while 'emanations' suggests several things flowing out from a source.
Word family
Commonly confused: emanations or emanation? emanations or emendation?
emanations vs emanation
'Emanation' is the singular; 'emanations' is the plural and is far more common in fixed phrases.
emanations vs emendation
'Emendation' means a correction made to a text, while 'emanation' means something flowing out.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'emanations' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Emanations' are things that flow or spread out from a source, so 'came from the locked cellar' fits. Option 0 and 3 treat it as a countable object you can give or buy, and option 2 wrongly uses it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “emanations”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.