astatic
Americanadjective
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unstable; unsteady.
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Physics. having no tendency to take a definite position or direction.
adjective
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not static; unstable
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physics
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having no tendency to assume any particular position or orientation
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(of a galvanometer) having two mutually compensating magnets arranged so that the instrument is independent of the earth's magnetic field
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of astatic
1820–30; < Greek ástat ( os ) not steadfast, unstable ( a- a- 6 + statós standing) + -ic; see static
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The presence of the current is easily shown with the astatic detectors.
From How Two Boys Made Their Own Electrical Apparatus Containing Complete Directions for Making All Kinds of Simple Apparatus for the Study of Elementary Electricity by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John
Horizontal and vertical astatic system are also used—Figs.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 643, April 28, 1888 by Various
The most convenient way will be to use two coils, one on each side of the astatic needle.
From How Two Boys Made Their Own Electrical Apparatus Containing Complete Directions for Making All Kinds of Simple Apparatus for the Study of Elementary Electricity by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John
Were the line that joins the two poles vertical, the system would be perfectly astatic in a uniform field, since each magnet in particular would then be perfectly astatic.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885 by Various
By this the astatic needle is suspended and protected from air currents.
From How Two Boys Made Their Own Electrical Apparatus Containing Complete Directions for Making All Kinds of Simple Apparatus for the Study of Elementary Electricity by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
