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viscoelastic

American  
[vis-koh-i-las-tik] / ˌvɪs koʊ ɪˈlæs tɪk /

adjective

Physics.
  1. pertaining to a substance having both viscous and elastic properties.


viscoelastic British  
/ ˌvɪskəʊɪˈlæstɪk /

adjective

  1. physics (of a solid or liquid) exhibiting both viscous and elastic behaviour when deformed

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of viscoelastic

First recorded in 1930–35; visc(ous) + -o- + elastic

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.

See Examples For:

Studies on the shear behavior of viscoelastic fluids, created by introducing polymers into Newtonian fluids, have already been conducted in recent years.

From Science Daily Apr. 4, 2024

Once inside, two things prevent a hasty escape: downward pointing hairs lining the inner pitcher wall, and a pool of liquid that is sometimes so viscoelastic it resembles quicksand.

From National Geographic Feb. 5, 2024

Which is to say that Nudy’s go-to producers, Bourne and Coupe, are in top form on “EA Monster,” consistently spritzing their perfumed melodies over viscoelastic rhythms that jiggle and throb.

From Washington Post Aug. 22, 2022

This glacier in Patagonia, Argentina, originated from successive snowfalls accumulating and compacting, forming a dense mass that is viscoelastic enough to be able to crawl down the valley.

From BBC Sep. 30, 2021

“Asphalt is a viscoelastic material, which is temperature-dependent. So, the hotter it is, the more fluid-like it is,” Muench says.

From The Verge Jul. 5, 2021

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