dilatant

[ dih-leyt-nt, dahy- ]
/ dɪˈleɪt nt, daɪ- /

adjective

dilating; expanding.
Physical Chemistry. exhibiting an increase in volume on being changed in shape, owing to a wider spacing between particles.
Petrology. (of rock) exhibiting an increase in volume owing to rearrangement and recrystallization of constituent grains.

Origin of dilatant

1835–45; < Latin dīlātant- (stem of dīlātāns), present participle of dīlātāre to dilate; see -ant

OTHER WORDS FROM dilatant

di·lat·an·cy, noun

Words nearby dilatant

dilantin, dilapidate, dilapidated, dilapidation, dilatancy, dilatant, dilatate, dilatation, dilatation and curettage, dilatator, dilate

British Dictionary definitions for dilatancy (1 of 2)

dilatancy
/ (daɪˈleɪtənsɪ, dɪ-) /

noun

a phenomenon caused by the nature of the stacking or fitting together of particles or granules in a heterogeneous system, such as the solidification of certain sols under pressure, and the thixotropy of certain gels

British Dictionary definitions for dilatancy (2 of 2)

dilatant
/ (daɪˈleɪtənt, dɪ-) /

adjective

tending to dilate; dilating
physics of, concerned with, or exhibiting dilatancy

noun

something, such as a catheter, that causes dilation