adiabatic

ad·i·a·bat·ic  (d--btk, d--)

adj.

Of, relating to, or being a reversible thermodynamic process that occurs without gain or loss of heat and without a change in entropy.

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[From Greek adiabatos, impassable : a-, not; see a-¹ + diabatos, passable (dia-, dia- + batos, passable from bainein, to go; see g^w- in Indo-European roots).]

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adi·a·bati·cal·ly adv.

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adiabatic [ˌædɪəˈbætɪk ˌeɪ-]

adj

(Physics / General Physics) (of a thermodynamic process) taking place without loss or gain of heat

n

(Physics / General Physics) a curve or surface on a graph representing the changes in two or more characteristics (such as pressure and volume) of a system undergoing an adiabatic process

[from Greek adiabatos not to be crossed, impassable (to heat), from a-¹ + diabatos passable, from dia- across + bainein to go]

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adiabatic  (d--btk)

Occurring without gain or loss of heat. When a gas is compressed under adiabatic conditions, its pressure increases and its temperature rises without the gain or loss of any heat. Conversely, when a gas expands under adiabatic conditions, its pressure and temperature both decrease without the gain or loss of heat. The adiabatic cooling of air as it rises in the atmosphere is the main cause of cloud formation.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

adiabatic - occurring without loss or gain of heat; "adiabatic expansion" natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" diabatic - involving a transfer of heat; "a diabatic process"