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saturation

1. The act of saturating, or the state of being saturating; complete penetration or impregnation.

2. (Science: chemistry) The act, process, or result of saturating a substance, or of combining it to its fullest extent.

3. (Science: optics) freedom from mixture or dilution with white; purity; said of colours.

The degree of saturation of a colour is its relative purity, or freedom from admixture with white.

Origin: L. Saturatio: cf. F. Saturation.