Noun: metastability ,me-tu-stu'bi-li-tee
- (physics) 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
"The metastability of supercooled water allows it to remain liquid below its freezing point"
Derived forms: metastabilities
Type of: constancy, constantness [rare], stability
Encyclopedia: Metastability