ductility
/dʌk'tiliti/
Definition
Noun: 1. The physical property of a material that allows it to be permanently deformed, especially by being stretched into a thin wire, without breaking. This is a key property in materials science and engineering, describing how much plastic deformation a solid material can undergo under tensile stress (pulling force). 2. (Figurative) The quality of being easily influenced, led, or shaped; pliability. This less common usage applies the physical property to describe a person's character or a situation's flexibility.
Usage and Examples
- Scientific/Engineering Context:
- Gold's high ductility allows it to be drawn into extremely fine wires for use in electronics.
- When comparing metals, copper exhibits greater ductility than cast iron, which is more brittle.
- The ductility of the alloy was tested by measuring how far it could be stretched before fracturing.
- Figurative Context:
- (Less common) The ductility of public opinion made it susceptible to the media's influence.
Advanced Usage
- "Measure of ductility": In engineering, this often refers to quantitative tests like the percentage elongation or reduction in area of a material after it fractures during a tensile test.
- "Ductility limit": The point at which a material ceases to deform plastically and begins to fracture.
Variants and Related Words
- Ductile (adjective): Possessing the property of ductility.
- Ductile metals are essential for manufacturing processes like wire drawing.
- Malleability (noun): A related but distinct property describing a material's ability to deform under compressive stress (e.g., being hammered into thin sheets). Many ductile materials are also malleable.
Synonyms
- Plasticity (noun): The general capacity for permanent deformation. (Note: is a specific type of plasticity under tension.)
- Pliability (noun): The quality of being easily bent or shaped; more common in figurative use.
- Flexibility (noun): The ability to bend without breaking; can be physical or figurative.
Antonyms
- Brittleness (noun): The property of breaking or shattering without significant plastic deformation.
- Rigidity (noun): The inability to be bent or forced out of shape.
Noun
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the malleability of something that can be drawn into threads or wires or hammered into thin sheets
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