n, often attrib  1 a  :  the act or process of liquefying or rendering 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 diverse elements into a unified whole : specif  :  the blending of retinal images in binocular vision  b  :  a combination of ingredients achieved by heating and mixing together  c (1) :  a blend of sensations, perceptions, ideas, or attitudes such that the component elements can seldom be identified by introspective analysis (2) :  the perception 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 enormous quantities of energy when certain light elements unite - called also nuclear fusion  fu*sion*al adj 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  vi·sion 
 
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