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dilatancy

 - 2 dictionary results

di⋅lat⋅ant

  [di-leyt-nt, dahy-]
Use dilatancy in a Sentence
–adjective
1. dilating; expanding.
2. Physical Chemistry. exhibiting an increase in volume on being changed in shape, owing to a wider spacing between particles.
3. Petrology. (of rock) exhibiting an increase in volume owing to rearrangement and recrystallization of constituent grains.
Origin:
1835–45; < L dīlātant- (s. of dīlātāns), prp. of dīlātāre to dilate; see -ant

Related forms:
di⋅lat⋅an⋅cy, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dilatancy
di·la·tan·cy   (dī-lāt'n-sē, dĭ-)   
n.   pl. di·la·tan·cies

  1. The increase in volume of a granular substance when its shape is changed, because of greater distance between its component particles.

  2. The phenomenon whereby a viscous substance solidifies under pressure.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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