E·las·tic·i·ty n.
1. The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; resilience; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air.
2. Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork; -- usually referred to as resilience[3].
Coefficient of elasticity, the quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called also coefficient of resistance.
Surface of elasticity Geom., the pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media.
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coefficient of elasticity
n : (physics) the ratio of the applied stress to the change in
shape of an elastic body [syn: modulus of elasticity, elastic
modulus]