reflux

noun

1. a flowing back; ebb.

verb

1. chem to boil or be boiled in a vessel attached to a condenser, so that the vapour condenses and flows back into the vessel

noun

2. chem
   1. an act of refluxing
   2. (as modifier)a reflux condenser
3. the act or an instance of flowing back; ebb

n.

early 15c., “a flowing back (of the sea, etc.),” from Medieval Latin refluxus, from Latin re- “back, again” (see re-) + fluxus “a flowing” (see flux). Digestive sense is recorded from 1937.

n.

1. A flowing back.
2. The process of refluxing.

v.

1. To boil a liquid in a vessel attached to a condenser so that the vapors continuously condense for reboiling.