deformation

[dee-fawr-mey-shuhn, def-er-]

noun

1. the act of deforming; deform; distortion; disfigurement.

2. the result of deforming; deform; change of form, especially for the worse.

3. an altered form.

4. Geology, Mechanics.,  a change in the shape or dimensions of a body, resulting from stress; strain.

Other Word Forms

• deformational adjective
• nondeformation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deformation¹

1400–50; late Middle English deformacioun < Latin dēfōrmātiōn- (stem of dēfōrmātiō ), equivalent to dēfōrmāt ( us ) (past participle of dēfōrmāre; deform ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Through large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, they watched how atoms reorganized during deformation and heating.

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The claim relates to deformation of the ship's hull, which has required months of remedial work.

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And governing body the FIA has introduced tougher tests for China after analysing footage from cameras aimed at studying rear wing deformation in Melbourne.

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The liquid flow of the outer core as well as pull from an uneven gravity field may cause deformation.

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A material with this sensitivity could be valuable for engineering applications in which large-scale forces need to be measured, as in monitoring building deformations, or in biological research to characterize forces in cells.

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