halflife
/ˈhæfˌlaɪf/
noun
- The time it takes for half of the atoms in a radioactive substance to decay, or for half of a substance to break down or be removed from a system.
- The halflife of carbon-14 is about 5,730 years, which helps scientists date ancient artifacts.
- The halflife of uranium-238 is so long that it barely changes over millions of years.
- Doctors use the halflife of a drug to decide how often a patient needs to take it.
- The time it takes for half of a substance (such as a chemical or pollutant) to be removed from the environment or a living organism.
- The halflife of this pesticide in soil is about two weeks, so it breaks down fairly quickly.
- The halflife of caffeine in an adult's body is roughly five hours.
- Researchers measured the halflife of the toxin in fish to understand how long it stays in their bodies.
- A figurative term for the period during which something (such as knowledge, a trend, or a skill) loses half of its value, relevance, or effectiveness.
- In the tech industry, the halflife of a programming skill can be just a few years.
- The halflife of news on social media is very short; people forget about it within days.
- Some experts say the halflife of a college degree is shrinking as new information emerges.