elastic limit

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the greatest stress that can be applied to an elastic body without causing permanent deformation.

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elastic limit British  

noun

1. the greatest stress that can be applied to a material without causing permanent deformation

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elastic limit Scientific  

1. The stress point at which a material, if subjected to higher stress, will no longer return to its original shape. Brittle materials tend to break at or shortly past their elastic limit, while ductile materials deform at stress levels beyond their elastic limit.

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Etymology

Origin of elastic limit

First recorded in 1860–65