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viscosity

[vi-skos-i-tee]
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noun, plural vis·cos·i·ties.
  1. the state or quality of being viscous.
  2. Physics.
    1. the property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause the fluid to flow.
    2. the measure of the extent to which a fluid possesses this property.
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Origin of viscosity

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin viscōsitās, equivalent to Latin viscōs(us) viscous + -itās- -ity
Related formshy·per·vis·cos·i·ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for viscosity

Historical Examples

  • The effect on gelation is also illustrated by the change of viscosity of the sol with time.

    Animal Proteins

    Hugh Garner Bennett

  • The quality of viscosity is practically absent in glacier-ice.

  • The viscosity of milk is often markedly increased over that which it normally possesses.

  • The cream, having the heavier body or viscosity, will move more slowly.

  • By the old gravity systems, the flow of oil depended largely upon its viscosity, or thickness.

    The Gasoline Motor

    Harold Whiting Slauson

British Dictionary definitions for viscosity

viscosity

noun plural -ties
  1. the state or property of being viscous
  2. physics
    1. the extent to which a fluid resists a tendency to flow
    2. Also called: absolute viscositya measure of this resistance, equal to the tangential stress on a liquid undergoing streamline flow divided by its velocity gradient. It is measured in newton seconds per metre squaredSymbol: η See also kinematic viscosity, specific viscosity
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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

Word Origin and History for viscosity

n.

early 15c., from Old French viscosite or directly from Medieval Latin viscositas, from Latin viscosus (see viscous).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
viscosity in Medicine

viscosity

(vĭ-skŏs′ĭ-tē)
n.
  1. The condition or property of being viscous.
  2. The degree to which a fluid resists flow under an applied force, measured by the tangential friction force per unit area divided by the velocity gradient under conditions of streamline flow; coefficient of viscosity.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
viscosity in Science

viscosity

[vĭ-skŏs′ĭ-tē]
  1. The resistance of a substance to flow. For example, water has a lower viscosity than molasses and flows more easily. Viscosity is related to the concept of shear force; it can be understood as the effect of different layers of the fluid exerting shearing force on each other, or on other surfaces, as they move against each other. Viscosity lies behind the skin friction component of drag.♦ Kinematic viscosity is a measure of the rate at which momentum is transferred through a fluid. It is measured in stokes.♦ Dynamic viscosity is a measure of the ratio of the stress on a region of a fluid to the rate of change of strain it undergoes. It is equal to the kinematic viscosity times the density of the fluid. It is measured in pascal-seconds or poises.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
viscosity in Culture

viscosity

[(vis-kos-uh-tee)]

The internal friction of a fluid, produced by the movement of its molecules against each other. Viscosity causes the fluid to resist flowing.

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.