isostasy

isos·ta·sy

noun \ī-ˈsäs-tə-sē\

Definition of ISOSTASY

1

: general equilibrium in the earth's crust maintained by a yielding flow of rock material beneath the surface under gravitative stress

2

: the quality or state of being subjected to equal pressure from every side

— iso·stat·ic \ˌī-sə-ˈsta-tik\ adjective

— iso·stat·i·cal·ly \-ˈsta-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Origin of ISOSTASY

International Scientific Vocabulary is- + Greek -stasia condition of standing, from histanai to cause to stand — more at stand

First Known Use: 1889

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with ISOSTASY

apostasy