Definition

Describing a material that becomes thicker or more viscous when it is stirred or agitated, and can flow more easily when at rest.

Example

The dilatant behavior of the mixture made it difficult to pour when stirred quickly.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how some substances become more viscous when you stir them?

Yeah, I think that's what they call a dilatant material.

Exactly! It's fascinating how they respond to pressure.

Right? It’s like they're alive in a way.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A substance that becomes thicker or more viscous when subjected to stress or shear, often used in materials science and engineering.

Example

The dilatant material showed an increase in viscosity when stirred quickly.

Conversation

I learned about something interesting in my science class today.

Oh really? What was it about?

It was about a dilatant substance that thickens under pressure.

Root Explanation

Dilatant is formed from "dilatare" (meaning to spread out or expand) and the suffix "-ant" (indicating an agent or something that performs an action). The word describes a substance that expands or becomes less viscous when subjected to stress or shear.

Memory Tip

Think of a substance that 'spreads out' or 'expands' when pressure is applied — that's what dilatant means.

Visually Confused Words