state of matter

Other forms: states of matter

Definitions of state of matter

1. noun

   (chemistry) the three traditional states of matter are solids (fixed shape and volume) and liquids (fixed volume and shaped by the container) and gases (filling the container)
   synonyms: state

   types:

   form, phase

   (physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary

   liquid, liquid state, liquidity, liquidness

   the state in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow with little or no tendency to disperse and relatively high incompressibility

   solid, solid state, solidness

   the state in which a substance has no tendency to flow under moderate stress; resists forces (such as compression) that tend to deform it; and retains a definite size and shape

   gas, gaseous state

   the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container

   plasma

   (physical chemistry) a fourth state of matter distinct from solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion reactors; a gas becomes a plasma when it is heated until the atoms lose all their electrons, leaving a highly electrified collection of nuclei and free electrons

   interplanetary gas

   a rarefied flow of gas and charged particles (plasma) that stream from the sun and form the solar wind

   dispersed particles, dispersed phase

   (of colloids) a substance in the colloidal state

   dispersing medium, dispersing phase, dispersion medium

   (of colloids) a substance in which another is colloidally dispersed

   type of:

   chemical phenomenon

   any natural phenomenon involving chemistry (as changes to atoms or molecules)