hys·ter·e·sis  (hĭs'tə-rē'sĭs)  n. pl. hys·ter·e·ses (-sēz) The lagging of an effect behind its cause, as when the change in magnetism of a body lags behind changes in the magnetic field. [Greek husterēsis, a shortcoming, from husterein, to come late, from husteros, late; see ud- in Indo-European roots.] hys'ter·et'ic (-rět'ĭk) adj. |
| hysteresis (hĭs'tə-rē'sĭs) Pronunciation Key
The dependence of the state of a system on the history of its state. For example, the magnetization of a material such as iron depends not only on the magnetic field it is exposed to but on previous exposures to magnetic fields. This "memory" of previous exposure to magnetism is the working principle in audio tape and hard disk devices. Deformations in the shape of substances that last after the deforming force has been removed, as well as phenomena such as supercooling, are examples of hysteresis. |