a coefficient expressing a specified property of a specified substance
bulk modulus, modulus of rigidity, Young's modulus
2. mathematics
the absolute value of a complex number
absolute value
3. mathematics
the number by which a logarithm to one base is multiplied to give the corresponding logarithm to another base
4. mathematics
an integer that can be divided exactly into the difference between two other integers
7 is a modulus of 25 and 11
See also congruence (sense 2)
Word origin
C16: from Latin, diminutive of modus measure
modulus in American English
(ˈmɑdʒələs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈmoduˌli (ˈmɑdʒəˌlaɪ)
1. Ancient Mathematics
a.
the absolute value of a complex number, computed by adding the squares of each part and taking the positive square root of the sum (i.e.: the modulus of a + bi is a2+b2)
b.
a quantity which gives the same remainders when it is the divisor of two quantities
c.
the factor by which a logarithm to one base is multiplied to change it to a logarithm to anotherbase
2. Physics
a quantity expressing the response of a sample of material to an external stimulus, as mechanical stress: the response is usually expressed as a fractional change in the physical quantity being affected