ductility

American  

[duhk-til-i-tee] / dʌkˈtɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the capacity to undergo a change of physical form without breaking; malleability or flexibility.

   High ductility and very low hardness made gold easy to work using primitive techniques.

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Other Word Forms

• nonductility
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ductility

ductil(e) ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does ductility compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ductility vs. malleability

Explanation

Ductility is the quality of being pliable and flexible, like a piece of metal that can be bent into a thin wire. Metals like silver, lead, and copper have ductility — a metalsmith can bend, hammer, and even stretch these materials without breaking or shattering them. Things like Silly Putty and Play-Doh also have ductility, but your ceramic mug and plastic sunglasses don't. Ductility and the adjective ductile are rooted in the Latin ductilis, "able to be led or drawn."

Example Sentences

Ductility, an aristocratic ease, a delicate touch and fluent technique will carry off this study with good effect.

From Chopin : the Man and His Music by Huneker, James

Ductility, ease, gracefulness were his aim; stiffness, harshness annoyed him.

From Chopin : the Man and His Music by Huneker, James