resilience

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

the physical property of a material that can return to its original shape or position after deformation that does not exceed its elastic limitSynonyms: resiliency
an occurrence of rebounding or springing backSynonyms: resiliency

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

resilience \re*sil"i*ence\ (r[-e]*z[i^]l"[i^]*ens), resiliency \re*sil"i*en*cy\ (r[-e]*z[i^]l"[i^]*en*s[y^]), n.

1.The act of springing back, rebounding, or resiling; as, the resilience of a ball or of sound. [1913 Webster]

2.The power or inherent property of returning to the form from which a substance is bent, stretched, compressed, or twisted; elasticity[1]; springiness; -- of objects and substances. [PJC]

3.Hence: The power or ability to recover quickly from a setback, depression, illness, overwork or other adversity; buoyancy; elasticity[2]; -- of people. [PJC]

4.(Mech. & Engin.) The mechanical work required to strain an elastic body, as a deflected beam, stretched spring, etc., to the elastic limit; also, the work performed by the body in recovering from such strain. [1913 Webster]

Elasticity \E`las*tic"i*ty\ ([=e]`l[a^]s*t[i^]s"[i^]*t[y^]), n. [Cf. F. ['e]lasticit['e].]

1.The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; resilience; tendency to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the air. [1913 Webster]

2.Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork; -- usually referred to as resilience[3]. [1913 Webster]

Coefficient of elasticity, the quotient of a stress (of a given kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called also coefficient of resistance.

Surface of elasticity (Geom.), the pedal surface of an ellipsoid (see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous ether in crystalline media. [1913 Webster]