dilatant

[ dih-leyt-nt, dahy- ]

adjective

1. dilating; expanding.
2. Physical Chemistry. exhibiting an increase in volume on being changed in shape, owing to a wider spacing between particles.
3. Petrology. (of rock) exhibiting an increase in volume owing to rearrangement and recrystallization of constituent grains.

dilatant

/ dɪ-; daɪˈleɪtənt /

adjective

1. tending to dilate; dilating
2. physics of, concerned with, or exhibiting dilatancy

noun

1. something, such as a catheter, that causes dilation

Other Words From

• di·latan·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilatant¹

1835–45; < Latin dīlātant- (stem of dīlātāns ), present participle of dīlātāre to dilate; -ant

Related Words

• extensive
• far-reaching
• inclusive
• wide-ranging