What is condensation called?

Condensation is fundamentally known as a phase transition or phase change, specifically representing the conversion of a substance from a gaseous or vapor state into a liquid state. Depending on the specific environmental context or scientific setting where it occurs, condensation goes by several other descriptive names. In meteorology and atmospheric science, when condensation happens close to the ground on cold surfaces like grass or metal, it is widely called dew. When it occurs suspended in the lower atmosphere, creating a dense cloud of tiny floating water droplets, it is referred to as fog or mist, while high-altitude atmospheric condensation forms clouds. In industrial engineering, chemical processing, and power generation, the resulting liquid collected from cooled vapors is frequently termed distillate or condensate. Furthermore, in general chemistry and physics, the broader physical mechanism is sometimes categorized under liquefaction, though liquefaction typically emphasizes extreme pressure application, whereas condensation emphasizes cooling. Each of these names highlights a different manifestation of the exact same physical process where cooling vapors turn into liquids.