density

noun

den·​si·​ty ˈden(t)-sə-tē How to pronounce density (audio)
plural densities
1
: the quality or state of being dense
measures of traffic density
the density of the cake
felt that the candidate's density on the subject of equality was alarming
the density of her prose
2
mathematics : the quantity per unit of volume (see volume entry 1 sense 2), unit of area (see area sense 1), or unit of length: such as
a
chemistry : the mass (see mass entry 2 sense 1c) of a substance per unit of volume
pure iron has a density of 7.8 grams per cubic centimeter
b
chemistry : the distribution of a quantity (such as electricity or energy) per unit usually of space (such as length, area, or volume)
The drawback to using ethanol as a complete replacement for gasoline, however, is not only the high cost of its production from cellulose but also its lower energy density.John R. Regalbuto
c
: the average number of individuals or units per unit of space
a population density of 500 per square mile
a housing density of 10 houses per acre
3
physics
a
: the degree of opacity (see opacity sense 2) of a translucent medium
the fog's density
b
: the common logarithm of the opacity

Examples of density in a Sentence

We were surprised by the fog's density. the density of her writing style These instruments are used for measuring the density of the atmosphere.
Recent Examples on the Web Leave a comment View Comments Walking, a common exercise for reaching step-count goals, helps to burn calories, maintain weight and improve bone density, Freeman said. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The formula works to help improve the hair’s density and reduce signs of shedding, resulting in hair that looks and feels healthy and strong in as little as 90 days with consistent use, according to the brand. Mia Huelsbeck, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Radar is great for detecting changes in density, but its signal incurs significant losses in wet snow and ice. IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2024 The rare clouds, formed by a phenomenon known as Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, occur as a result of differences in air density in adjacent layers of the sky. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 Remarkably, two nursery areas out of the ten even exhibited an increase in juvenile shark density over time! Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The first step before evolving either shell eyes or eyespots, the researchers observed, was an increase in the density of aesthetes on the shell. Quanta Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Snow that has been sitting on the ground for a while compacts, and when calculating snow density, Svoma is looking for a number around 25%. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 When part of a cloud reaches some critical density, gravity causes that dense, roughly spherical region to collapse into a flattened, whirling protoplanetary disk with a nascent, glowing star at its center. Shannon Hall, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'density.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see dense

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of density was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near density

Cite this Entry

“Density.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/density. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

density

noun
den·​si·​ty ˈden(t)-sət-ē How to pronounce density (audio)
plural densities
1
: the quality or state of being dense
2
: the quantity of something per unit volume, unit area, or unit length: as
a
: the mass of a substance per unit volume
density expressed in grams per cubic centimeter
b
: the average number of individuals or units in a unit of area or volume
a population density of 500 per square mile
3

Medical Definition

density

noun
den·​si·​ty ˈden(t)-sət-ē, -stē How to pronounce density (audio)
plural densities
1
: the quantity per unit volume, unit area, or unit length: as
a
: the mass of a substance per unit volume
b
: the distribution of a quantity (as mass, electricity, or energy) per unit usually of space
c
: the average number of individuals or units per space unit
a population density of 500 per square mile
2
a
: the degree of opacity of a translucent medium

More from Merriam-Webster on density

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