adiabatic

[ad-ee-uh-bat-ik, ey-dahy-uh-]

adjective

occurring without gain or loss of heat (opposed to diabatic): an adiabatic process.

Origin of adiabatic

1875–80; < Greek adiábat(os) incapable of being crossed (a- a-⁶ + dia- dia- + ba- (stem of baínein to cross) + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + -ic; cf. diabatic

Related formsad·i·a·bat·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for adiabatic

Higher than this, the temperature decreases at a fairly uniform rate, but more slowly than the adiabatic rate.
Sounding the Ocean of Air|A. Lawrence Rotch
The straight dotted lines show the adiabatic decrease of temperature for ascending dry air.
Sounding the Ocean of Air|A. Lawrence Rotch
But let us assume that we have a compressor which shows an adiabatic pressure line.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 799, April 25, 1891|Various
The temperature falls at the adiabatic rate in unsaturated air till the base of the cumulus cloud is reached.
Sounding the Ocean of Air|A. Lawrence Rotch

At the same time the utmost pains are taken to maintain the adiabatic condition of the metal walls.
Respiration Calorimeters for Studying the Respiratory Exchange and Energy Transformations of Man|Francis Gano Benedict

British Dictionary definitions for adiabatic

adiabatic

adjective

(of a thermodynamic process) taking place without loss or gain of heat

noun

a curve or surface on a graph representing the changes in two or more characteristics (such as pressure and volume) of a system undergoing an adiabatic process

Word Origin for adiabatic

C19: from Greek adiabatos not to be crossed, impassable (to heat), from a- 1 + diabatos passable, from dia- across + bainein to go

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for adiabatic

adj.

1838, from Greek adiabatos "not to be passed through," from a- "not" + dia "through" (see dia-) + batos "passable," from bainein "to go" (see come).

Science definitions for adiabatic

adiabatic

[ăd′ē-ə-băt′ĭk]

Occurring without gain or loss of heat. When a gas is compressed under adiabatic conditions, its pressure increases and its temperature rises without the gain or loss of any heat. Conversely, when a gas expands under adiabatic conditions, its pressure and temperature both decrease without the gain or loss of heat. The adiabatic cooling of air as it rises in the atmosphere is the main cause of cloud formation.