state of matter

American  

[stayt-uhv mat-er] / ˈsteɪt əv ˈmæt ər /

noun

plural

states of matter

1. Physical Chemistry. any of the phases, including solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and others, in which a substance can occur.

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state of matter Scientific  

/ stāt /

1. One of the four principal conditions in which matter exists—solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

2. See also phase phase transition

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Example Sentences

Instead of freezing, it transforms from a normal gas into a superfluid, a rare state of matter that flows without any resistance and displays strange behaviors, including creeping up the sides of containers.

From Science Daily

This unusual mixture is known as dusty plasma, a rare state of matter that exists both in outer space and inside laboratory experiments.

From Science Daily

Physicists use similar ideas to describe states of matter.

From Science Daily

These motionless atoms have a major effect on how a liquid turns into a solid, including the creation of an unusual state of matter known as a corralled supercooled liquid.

From Science Daily

As Zhang notes, "Understanding this hidden state of matter brings us one step closer to unlocking the secrets of Earth-like planetary interiors."

From Science Daily