Poisson's ratio

or Poisson ratio


noun Physics.

the ratio, in an elastic body under longitudinal stress, of the transverse strain to the longitudinal strain.

Origin of Poisson's ratio

First recorded in 1925–30; see origin at Poisson distribution

British Dictionary definitions for poisson's ratio

Poisson's ratio

noun

a measure of the elastic properties of a material expressed as the ratio of the fractional contraction in breadth to the fractional increase in length when the material is stretched Symbol: μ, ν