Search Result for "metastability": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. the quality of a physical system that persists in its existing equilibrium when undisturbed (or only slightly disturbed) but able to pass to a more stable equilibrium when sufficiently disturbed; 



WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

metastability
    n 1: the quality of a physical system that persists in its
         existing equilibrium when undisturbed (or only slightly
         disturbed) but able to pass to a more stable equilibrium
         when sufficiently disturbed