viscosity

[ vi-skos-i-tee ]

/ vɪˈskɒs ɪ ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR viscosity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural vis·cos·i·ties.

the state or quality of being viscous.

Physics.

the property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause the fluid to flow.
the measure of the extent to which a fluid possesses this property.

RELATED WORDS

thickness, adhesiveness

Nearby words

viscometer, viscometric, visconti, visconti, luchino, viscose, viscosity, viscosity index, viscount, viscount melville sound, viscountcy, viscountess

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for viscosity

A viscous precipitate forms which frequently loses its viscosity when heat is applied.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre
The variation of viscosity with strength of solution was also studied with one or two typical gums.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, Sep. 26, 1891|Various
Trea′cle-sleep, a sweet and refreshing sleep; Trea′cliness, viscosity.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
What relationship the viscosity of the blood has to the rate and volume of flow is not fully understood.
Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension:|Louis Marshall Warfield

These numbers do not show any marked connection between the viscosity, etc., of a gum and its specific rotatory power.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, Sep. 26, 1891|Various

British Dictionary definitions for viscosity

viscosity

/ (vɪsˈkɒsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the state or property of being viscous

physics

the extent to which a fluid resists a tendency to flow
Also called: absolute viscosity a 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

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

viscosity

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

Medicine definitions for viscosity

viscosity

[ vĭ-skŏs′ĭ-tē ]

n.

The condition or property of being viscous.

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.

Science definitions for viscosity

viscosity

[ vĭ-skŏs′ĭ-tē ]

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.

Culture definitions for viscosity

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.