relaxation time

American

noun

Physics.

the time that it takes for an exponentially decaying quantity, as radioactive particles or transient electrical currents, to decrease to 36.8 percent of its initial value.

Etymology

Origin of relaxation time

First recorded in 1970–75

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 first memristor with a 'relaxation time' that can be tuned is reported today in Nature Electronics, in a study led by the University of Michigan.

From Science Daily

"We found that dielectric relaxation time can be modulated or induced by a very small gap in the material structure," Bae explained.

From Science Daily

The relaxation time is shown to increase with higher energy detuning, which doesn't match observations in other systems.

From Science Daily

Lunch gives her some relaxation time and a toilet break.

From BBC

Cascade Valley Inn is a luxury bed-and-breakfast-style option that is perfect for a little mountain rest and relaxation time.

From Seattle Times

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