exposure

expose +‎ -ure

• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪkˈspoʊʒɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

exposure (countable and uncountable, plural exposures)

1. (uncountable) The condition of being exposed, uncovered, or unprotected.
   • 2013 June 8, “Obama goes troll-hunting”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 55:

     The solitary, lumbering trolls of Scandinavian mythology would sometimes be turned to stone by exposure to sunlight. Barack Obama is hoping that several measures announced on June 4th will have a similarly paralysing effect on their modern incarnation, the patent troll.

   Limit your exposure to harsh chemicals.   Get as much exposure to a new language as you can.

2. (uncountable) Lack of protection from weather or the elements.
   • 1993, Paul Chadwick, The Ugly Boy, Dark Horse Books

     As all of you know, a great tragedy occurred yesterday. Arthur Harcourt died of exposure sometimes in the morning in the woods off Mount Tom Road.

3. The act of exposing something, such as a scandal.
4. (countable, uncountable) That part which is facing or exposed to something, e.g. the sun, weather, sky, or a view.

   They rented a cabin with a beautiful southern exposure.

5. (photography) An instance of taking a photograph.
6. (photography) The piece of film exposed to light.
7. (photography) Details of the time and f-number used.
8. (horticulture) The amount of sun, wind etc. experienced by a particular site.