metastable

enUK

met·a·sta·ble

M0249200 (mĕt′ə-stā′bəl)adj. Of, relating to, or being an unstable but relatively long-lived state of a chemical or physical system, as of a supersaturated solution or an excited atom.

met′a·sta·bil′i·ty (-stə-bĭl′ĭ-tē) n.

metastable

(ˌmɛtəˈsteɪbəl) physicsadj1. (General Physics) (of a body or system) having a state of apparent equilibrium although capable of changing to a more stable state2. (General Physics) (of an atom, molecule, ion, or atomic nucleus) existing in an excited state with a relatively long lifetimen (General Physics) a metastable atom, ion, molecule, or nucleus ˌmetastaˈbility n

me•ta•sta•ble

(ˈmɛt əˌsteɪ bəl, ˌmɛt əˈsteɪ-)

adj. 1. Metall. chemically unstable in the absence of certain conditions that would induce stability, but not liable to spontaneous transformation. 2. Physics, Chem. pertaining to a body or system that requires the addition of a small amount of energy to induce a transition to a more stable state at a lower energy level. [1895–1900] met`a•sta•bil′i•ty (-stəˈbɪl ɪ ti) n.

metastable

Describes a system which appears to be stable, but which can undergo a rapid change if disturbed.

Thesaurus

Adj.

metastable - (of physical systems) continuing in its present state of equilibrium unless sufficiently disturbed to pass to a more stable state of equilibriumnatural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics"

Translations

metastable

met·a·sta·ble

(met'ă-stā'bĕl), 1. Of uncertain stability; in a condition to pass into another phase when slightly disturbed, for example, water, when cooled below the freezing point may remain liquid but will immediately congeal if a piece of ice is added. 2. Denoting the excited condition of the nucleus of a radionuclide isomer that reaches a lower energy state by the process of isomeric transition decay without changing its atomic number or weight; for example, ^99m₄₃Tc → ⁹⁹₄₃Tc + γ. [meta- + L. stabilis, stable]

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Words related to metastable

adj (of physical systems) continuing in its present state of equilibrium unless sufficiently disturbed to pass to a more stable state of equilibrium

Related Words