deformation

noun

de·​for·​ma·​tion ˌdē-ˌfȯr-ˈmā-shən  ˌde-fər- 

1

: alteration of form or shape

also : the product of such alteration

2

: the action of deforming : the state of being deformed

3

: change for the worse

deformational

ˌdē-ˌfȯr-ˈmā-sh(ə-)nəl 

ˌde-fər-

adjective

Synonyms

• contortion
• distortion
• misshaping
• screwing
• squinching
• torturing
• warping

Examples of deformation in a Sentence

the catastrophic deformation of the steel girders under the enormous weight of the bridge

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2018, a team of French physicists developed a rudimentary mathematical model to describe the deformation of a common type of knit. —Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024

Causes of Friction Blisters Friction blisters on the feet are caused by three elements: the motion of bone, high friction force, and the repetition of shear stress, which is when a force causes the deformation of an object by creating slippage along a flat surface that is parallel to the force. —Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024

Magma's Journey to the Surface Data from deformation measurements at the summit of Kīlauea in Hawaii. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024

Regardless of views on climate change and global warming, the world's glaciers are increasingly retreating despite seasonal fluctuations and independent of natural glacial movement caused by factors like internal deformation. —New Atlas, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 3