The term for the process of a liquid turning into vapor is called evaporation. Evaporation occurs when molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and transition into the gas phase. This process can happen at any temperature, though it occurs more rapidly at higher temperatures, where more molecules have sufficient energy. Evaporation is a crucial component of the water cycle, contributing to the formation of clouds and precipitation. It also plays a role in various applications, such as drying clothes or cooling mechanisms in nature, like sweating in humans.