A process or procedure applied to something after an initial treatment, usually to improve results or remove remaining unwanted substances.
Combines 'after' with 'treatment' (from Latin 'tractare,' to handle or deal with). Became common in industrial and medical contexts in the 20th century as multi-stage processes became standard.
Car manufacturers use aftertreatment systems on exhaust pipes to clean up pollution after combustion happens—it's like giving the emissions a second chance to become less harmful before they escape into the air!
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