nitinol

noun

ni·​ti·​nol ˈnī-tə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce nitinol (audio)
-ˌnōl
: a nonmagnetic alloy of titanium and nickel that after being deformed returns to its original shape upon being reheated

Examples of nitinol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company is known for its ability to micromachine nitinol implants and to achieve subminiature precision beyond the reach of most manufacturers. cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Internal reactions are more difficult to determine, as a variety of implants are made with nitinol, one of the properties of nickel and titanium. Wired, 9 Aug. 2022 The guidewire is made of a bendy nickel-titanium alloy called nitinol covered in an ink studded with magnetic particles and is only 0.6 millimeters in diameter. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 30 Aug. 2019 The family affinity is also expressed in the use of the same nitinol headband and the same cable connectors across all four models. Vlad Savov, The Verge, 30 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

nickel + titanium + -nol (from Naval Ordnance Laboratory, where it was created)

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitinol was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near nitinol

Cite this Entry

“Nitinol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitinol. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

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