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dilatancy

British

/ daɪˈleɪtənsɪ, dɪ- /

noun

a phenomenon caused by the nature of the stacking or fitting together of particles or granules in a heterogeneous system, such as the solidification of certain sols under pressure, and the thixotropy of certain gels

"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

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.

Together, the unusual geometry and trapped fluids create conditions for a process called "dilatancy strengthening."

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

Expat carries with it the sense of choice, but also a whiff of flightiness and dilatancy, the idea that you’ve rejected the country of your birth for reasons of lifestyle rather than need.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2014

If dilatancy changes have been recorded for 70 days and then suddenly return to normal, the quake should occur in about a week.

From Time Magazine Archive

If the dilatancy effects occur in a small area, the quake will be minor but will occur soon.

From Time Magazine Archive

In addition, because the cracking of the rock increases its volume, dilatancy can account for the crustal uplift and tilting that precedes some quakes.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023