What does lasing mean?
Lasing means producing or emitting laser light, especially the coherent, narrowly directed radiation produced through stimulated emission. The word is chiefly used in optics, lasers, and photonics: a description of a device may explain that it begins lasing only after a gain medium reaches a particular threshold. It is also used attributively in expressions such as “lasing action.” In general conversation, “lasing” is much less common than “operating a laser,” but it is the precise term for the physical process of laser emission. The word should not be confused with “lazing,” meaning relaxing, or “laying,” meaning placing something down. Its interest lies in the history of “laser,” an acronym formed from “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”; “lase” was subsequently created by back-formation from that acronym.
To emit or produce laser light, especially coherent light through stimulated emission.
"The optical cavity began lasing at the designed frequency."
Usually used in technical contexts and often describing the transition of a gain medium from a non-lasing to a lasing state.
The emission or production of laser light.
"Continuous-wave lasing is sustained by pumping energy into the gain medium."
Normally treated as an uncountable technical noun and commonly used attributively, as in “lasing action.”
The plural is rare; the noun is normally used uncountably to denote laser emission or the process itself.
"The researchers recorded distinct lasings from each experimental cavity."
“Laser” began life as an acronym, and “lasing” names the moment its carefully amplified light bursts into coherent beams.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lasing come from?
The base verb “lase” was formed in the mid-20th century by back-formation from “laser,” itself an acronym of “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” The acronym was proposed by physicist Gordon Gould in 1959 and developed through subsequent work on optical masers. “Lasing” combines “lase” with the present-participle ending “-ing” and became especially common in technical descriptions of coherent light emission.
Related word forms
How lasing is actually used
This is primarily the present participle of “lase” and is common in technical writing. It can also function as a gerund or, less commonly, as a noun denoting laser emission or the process of producing laser light.
Easily confused with lasing
Lasing means producing laser light, whereas lazing means relaxing or doing nothing in a leisurely way.
Lasing concerns the emission of laser light, while laying means placing something down or constructing something.