deformation
Americannoun
-
the act of deforming; distortion
-
the result of deforming; a change in form, esp for the worse
-
a change in the dimensions of an object resulting from a stress
Other Word Forms
- deformational adjective
- nondeformation noun
Etymology
Origin of deformation
1400–50; late Middle English deformacioun < Latin dēfōrmātiōn- (stem of dēfōrmātiō ), equivalent to dēfōrmāt ( us ) (past participle of dēfōrmāre; see deform 1) + -iōn- -ion
Vocabulary lists containing deformation
Earth Science - Middle School
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Rocks and Minerals - Introductory
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Mechanical Engineering
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These waves are especially useful for mapping seismic anisotropy across distances of hundreds of kilometers, offering a clearer picture of how deformation is distributed in the deepest mantle.
From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026
Scientists were able to confirm Jerk alerts using other monitoring indicators, including seismicity, ground deformation, and volcanic gas measurements.
From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2026
Activity far below the surface can prepare the crust for later deformation, influencing where major fractures and rifts eventually develop.
From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026
"These notches in the wheels and the deformation observed in the track are compatible with the fact that the track was cracked," it wrote in what it called a "working hypothesis".
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
Like Brugman, Swanson, and Johnston, CVO scientists also monitor active volcanoes through ground deformation, seismic activity, and gas emissions.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.