viscosity
/vɪˈskɒsɪti
/noun (plural viscosities) [mass noun]
1The state of being thick, sticky, and semi-fluid in consistency, due to internal friction: cooling the fluid raises its viscosity...
- Water so treated will show a change of temperature, surface tension, viscosity and electrical conductivity.
- Electronics also compensate for changes in oil viscosity for consistent operation at all temperatures.
- Once aspirated, due to their low viscosity and surface tension, they reach the dependent portion of the lung and cause a chemical pneumonia.
1.1 [count noun] A quantity expressing the magnitude of internal friction in a fluid, as measured by the force per unit area resisting uniform flow: silicone oils can be obtained with different viscosities...
- However, the temperature effect on the diffusion boundary layer involves the 1/6 power of the ratio of kinematic viscosities of water at the two temperatures.
- Whitaker used numerical methods to develop the interface between the two fluids with different viscosities in a Hele-Shaw cell.
- The problem involves materials of different densities, different viscosities, with very large variations in local Reynolds number (convection divided by viscous diffusion) and hydraulic conditions.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French viscosite or medieval Latin viscositas, from late Latin viscosus (see viscous).