noun
fumigation
fyoo-mih-GAY-shun/ˌfjuːmɪˈɡeɪʃn/
Treatment using poisonous gas, vapor, or smoke to kill pests.
Fumigation fills the sealed chamber with smoke to kill beetles.
Etymology
The pieces describe the action of making smoke. The word developed a sense of exposing people or things to fumes, originally for treatment; the selected sense applies that exposure to killing pests.
In context
they have that big fumigation tent they're open they're unfolding it in the front yard
More examples
- The house needs fumigation to eliminate termites.
- Workers seal the warehouse before fumigation begins.
- Residents must stay elsewhere during fumigation.
Forms
fumigation · fumigations
fumigate verb — Treat with fumes to kill pests.
fumigant noun — A pest-killing chemical released as gas.
Similar words
- extermination
- Killing pests by any method, not necessarily with fumes.
- pest control
- Managing pests through prevention, removal, or killing by various methods.