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adiabatic

adjective
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adi·​a·​bat·​ic | \ ˌa-dē-ə-ˈba-tik How to pronounce adiabatic (audio) , ˌā-ˌdī-ə- \

Definition of adiabatic

: occurring without loss or gain of heat adiabatic expansion of a gas
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Other Words from adiabatic

adiabatically \ ˌa-​dē-​ə-​ˈba-​ti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce adiabatically (audio) , ˌā-​ˌdī-​ə-​ \ adverb

Examples of adiabatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This occurs due to a phenomenon called adiabatic cooling. — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "How Your Bottle of Champagne Is Basically an F-16," 20 Sep. 2019 In this respect, the approach is more like adiabatic quantum computing and offers prospects for scaling. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Wandering Bose-Einstein condensate may lead to scalable quantum computer," 29 Aug. 2018 This is done via a generator (usually a natural gas generator) or in a more environmentally friendly way using heat saved from the storage process in an adiabatic CAES system. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Here are humanity’s best ideas on how to store energy," 28 Oct. 2017 This means that the adiabatic cooling even more extreme during carbon dioxide release. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Opening Warm Champagne Leads to a Pop of Blue," 19 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adiabatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of adiabatic

1870, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for adiabatic

Greek adiábatos "impassable" (from a- a- entry 2 + diabatós "to be crossed, fordable," verbal adjective of diabaínein "to step across, pass over," from dia- dia- + baínein "to walk, step") + -ic entry 1 — more at come entry 1

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Time Traveler for adiabatic

Time Traveler

The first known use of adiabatic was in 1870

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Statistics for adiabatic

Cite this Entry

“Adiabatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adiabatic. Accessed 10 Jul. 2020.

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