Dictionary.com
definitions

modulus of elasticity

noun Physics.

any of several coefficients of elasticity of a body, expressing the ratio between a stress or force per unit area that acts to deform the body and the corresponding fractional deformation caused by the stress.

RELATED CONTENT

What are the most neglected words in the English language?Wayne State University’s Word Warriors have released their top ten words to revive in 2011 . Starting in 2009, the Wayne State Word Warriors have highlighted obscure English words to bring back into common usage. Citing the vast vocabulary available in English – the biggest in the world, in fact — the Word Warriors contend that the depth and elasticity of the language is often …
READ MORE
- Meaning of at Dictionary.comRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Nearby words

  1. modulator,
  2. modulatory,
  3. module,
  4. modulo,
  5. modulus,
  6. modulus of rigidity,
  7. modus,
  8. modus operandi,
  9. modus ponens,
  10. modus tollens

Origin of modulus of elasticity

First recorded in 1800–10
Also called coefficient of elasticity, elastic modulus.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for modulus of elasticity

modulus of elasticity

noun

the ratio of the stress applied to a body or substance to the resulting strain within the elastic limitAlso called: elastic modulus See also Young's modulus, bulk modulus, modulus of rigidity
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
Science definitions for modulus of elasticity

modulus of elasticity

The ratio of the stress applied to a body to the strain that results in the body in response to it. The modulus of elasticity of a material is a measure of its stiffness and for most materials remains constant over a range of stress.♦ The ratio of the longitudinal strain to the longitudinal stress is called Young's modulus.♦ The ratio of the stress on the body to the body's fractional decrease in volume is the bulk modulus.♦ The ratio of the tangential force per unit area to the angular deformation in radians is the shear modulus. See also Hooke's law.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.