freeze-dry

2 definitions found

freeze-dry - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Freeze-dry \Freeze"-dry`\ (fr[=e]z"-dr[imac]`), v. t. [imp. & p.
     p. Freeze-dried; p. pr. & vb. n. Freeze-drying.]
     to remove the moisture from (e.g. food) by first freezing and
     then subjecting to a high vacuum; -- used as a mild method
     for drying foods or chemicals while causing little
     decomposition, in contrast to heat-drying.
  
     Note: This is a relatively gently drying process used to
           preserve food or sensitive biological materials. For
           biochemical materials, the term {lyophilize} is often
           used.
           [PJC]

freeze-dry - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  freeze-dry
      v 1: preserve by rapid freezing and subsequently drying in a
           vacuum; "freeze-dry the strawberries"