hysteresis

[ his-tuh-ree-sis ]
/ ˌhɪs təˈri sɪs /

noun Physics.

the lag in response exhibited by a body in reacting to changes in the forces, especially magnetic forces, affecting it. Compare magnetic hysteresis.
the phenomenon exhibited by a system, often a ferromagnetic or imperfectly elastic material, in which the reaction of the system to changes is dependent upon its past reactions to change.

Origin of hysteresis

1795–1805; < Greek hystérēsis deficiency, state of being behind or late, hence inferior, equivalent to hysterē-, variant stem of hystereîn to come late, lag behind, verbal derivative of hýsteros coming behind + -sis -sis

OTHER WORDS FROM hysteresis

hys·ter·et·ic [his-tuh-ret-ik] /ˌhɪs təˈrɛt ɪk/, hys·ter·e·si·al [his-tuh-ree-see-uh l] /ˌhɪs təˈri si əl/, adjective hys·ter·et·i·cal·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for hysteresis

British Dictionary definitions for hysteresis

hysteresis
/ (ˌhɪstəˈriːsɪs) /

noun

physics the lag in a variable property of a system with respect to the effect producing it as this effect varies, esp the phenomenon in which the magnetic flux density of a ferromagnetic material lags behind the changing external magnetic field strength

Derived forms of hysteresis

hysteretic (ˌhɪstəˈrɛtɪk), adjective hysteretically, adverb

Word Origin for hysteresis

C19: from Greek husterēsis coming late, from husteros coming after

Medical definitions for hysteresis

hysteresis
[ hĭs′tə-rēsĭs ]

n. pl. hys•ter•e•ses (-sēz)

The lagging of an effect behind its cause, as when the change in magnetism of a body lags behind changes in the magnetic field.

Other words from hysteresis

hys′ter•etic (-rĕtĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for hysteresis

hysteresis
[ hĭs′tə-rēsĭs ]

The dependence of the state of a system on the history of its state. For example, the magnetization of a material such as iron depends not only on the magnetic field it is exposed to but on previous exposures to magnetic fields. This “memory” of previous exposure to magnetism is the working principle in audio tape and hard disk devices. Deformations in the shape of substances that last after the deforming force has been removed, as well as phenomena such as supercooling, are examples of hysteresis.