dilatant

American  

[dih-leyt-nt, dahy-] / dɪˈleɪt nt, daɪ- /

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.

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dilatant British  

/ dɪ-, daɪˈleɪtənt /

adjective

1. tending to dilate; dilating

2. physics of, concerned with, or exhibiting dilatancy

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noun

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

Other Word Forms

• dilatancy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dilatant

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

Example Sentences

He became interested in dilatant materials, whose unique flowing and locking molecular bond was discovered in the '50s.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

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