Definition of quenching

quenching

1. The process of extinguishing, removing, or diminishing a physical property such as heat or light, rapidly cooling a hot metal rapidly by plunging it into water or oil.
2. In beta liquid scintillation counting, the shifting of the energy spectrum from a true to a lower energy; it is caused by a variety of interfering materials in the counting solution, including foreign chemicals and coloring agents.
3. The process of stopping a chemical or enzymatic reaction.

[M. E. quenchen, fr. O.E. ācwencan]