exhaustion

IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzɔːs.tʃən/

exhaustion (usually uncountable, plural exhaustions)

1. The point of complete depletion, of the state of being used up.

   We worked the mine to exhaustion, there's nothing left to extract.

2. Supreme tiredness; having exhausted energy.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess‎:

     As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.

   I ran in the marathon to exhaustion, then I collapsed and had to be carried away.

3. (dated, chemistry) The removal (by percolation etc) of an active medicinal constituent from plant material.
4. (dated, physics) The removal of all air from a vessel (the creation of a vacuum).
5. (mathematics) An exhaustive procedure

• See also Thesaurus:fatigue

• proof by exhaustion

• exhaust