metastable state
11metastable — metastability /met euh steuh bil i tee/, n. /met euh stay beuhl, met euh stay /, adj. 1. Metall. chemically unstable in the absence of certain conditions that would induce stability, but not liable to spontaneous transformation. 2. Also, labile.… …
12state — statable, stateable, adj. /stayt/, n., adj., v., stated, stating. n. 1. the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes: a state of health. 2. the condition of matter with respect to structure, form,… …
13State of matter — A state of matter (or physical state, or form of matter) has physical properties which are qualitatively different from other states of matter.Traditionally, three states of matter were recognized: solid, which maintains a fixed volume and shape; …
14metastable — 1. Of uncertain stability; in a condition to pass into another phase when slightly disturbed; e.g., water, when cooled below the freezing point may remain liquid but will at once congeal if a piece of ice is added. 2. Denoting the excited… …
15metastable — /mɛtəˈsteɪbəl/ (say metuh staybuhl) adjective 1. Chemistry (of a body or system) existing in an apparently stable state although the addition of a small amount of energy would convert it to a more stable state, as supercooled water will remain… …
16metastable — adj. 1 (of a state of equilibrium) stable only under small disturbances. 2 passing to another state so slowly as to seem stable. Derivatives: metastability n …
17metastable — adjective Of or pertaining to a physical or chemical state that is unstable or transient yet relatively long lived …
18metastable isomer — noun An excited state of an isotope, often having different a spin quantum number (designated with an m) Syn: metastate …
19metastable — [ˌmɛtə steɪb(ə)l] adjective Physics 1》 (of a state of equilibrium) stable only under small disturbances. 2》 (of a substance or particle) theoretically unstable but so long lived as to be stable for practical purposes. Derivatives metastability… …
20metastable — me•ta•sta•ble [[t]ˈmɛt əˌsteɪ bəl, ˌmɛt əˈsteɪ [/t]] adj. 1) mel Metall. chemically unstable in the absence of certain conditions that would induce stability, but not liable to spontaneous transformation 2) phs Physics, Chem. pertaining to a body …
