dilatancy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - Proficient / TechnicalSpecialized / Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “dilatancy” mean?
The property of certain granular or viscous materials (like sand, soil, or concentrated suspensions) to expand in volume when subjected to shearing or deformation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The property of certain granular or viscous materials (like sand, soil, or concentrated suspensions) to expand in volume when subjected to shearing or deformation.
In a broader sense, it can refer to any increase in volume or expansion under stress, or metaphorically, a tendency to become diffuse or spread out.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is confined to technical contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical and neutral in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, but standard within its specific scientific fields in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “dilatancy” in a Sentence
The [material] exhibits/showed dilatancy under [conditions].Dilatancy occurs/is observed when [material] is sheared.[Stress] results in/leads to dilatancy.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dilatancy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The engineer noted that the soil would dilate under the proposed load.
American English
- The material dilates significantly when sheared at this rate.
adjective
British English
- The dilatant behaviour of the mixture made it difficult to pump.
American English
- They observed a dilatant response in the tested sample.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Common in geotechnical engineering, physics, and materials science papers. (e.g., 'The study quantified the dilatancy of the granular assembly.')
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used to describe soil behavior for foundation design, or the physics of pastes and suspensions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dilatancy”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dilatancy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dilatancy”
- Confusing with 'diligence' or 'dilution'.
- Using it in non-technical contexts.
- Incorrect stress: saying 'DIL-a-tan-cy' instead of 'dye-LAY-tan-see'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in scientific and engineering contexts.
It describes the unexpected property of some materials to expand or increase in volume when you try to deform or shear them, rather than being compressed.
Yes. Walking on saturated beach sand: the pressure from your foot shears the sand grains, forcing them to rearrange into a looser packing. This pushes water away from the grains around your footprint, making that area look momentarily dry.
'Dilate' is a general verb meaning to become wider or larger (e.g., pupils dilate). 'Dilatancy' is a specific noun for the physical *property* of expanding under shear stress, particularly in granular or dense materials.
The property of certain granular or viscous materials (like sand, soil, or concentrated suspensions) to expand in volume when subjected to shearing or deformation.
Dilatancy is usually specialized / technical / scientific in register.
Dilatancy: in British English it is pronounced /dʌɪˈleɪt(ə)nsi/, and in American English it is pronounced /daɪˈleɪtənsi/ˌ dɪˈleɪtənsi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of walking on wet sand: your foot stresses it (shear), and the dry sand around your footprint appears (dilates/expands). That's dilatancy.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRESS CAUSES EXPANSION (counter-intuitive, as stress often compresses).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'dilatancy' MOST commonly used?