metastable
adjective
meta·sta·ble
ˌme-tə-ˈstā-bəl 
: having or characterized by only a slight margin of stability
a metastable compound
Examples of metastable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some metastable clogs persisted longer than others.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2023
Under a metastable regime, information is continuously created, preserved and annihilated by spatiotemporally changing coalitions among parts and processes.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2014
In an inflating universe, if a region is in a metastable vacuum, bubbles containing different vacua will form.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
The averaging of subcontinental scale populations collapses the varied responses and generates a false metastable equilibrium in the data.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011
Plugging those two numbers into the stability equations reveals that the universe is… metastable.
—Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
In 2000, astronomers predicted that metastable helium should show up in certain planetary atmospheres, but a search for it—reported in 2003,—on the planet HD 209458b, came up empty.
—Alexandra Witze, Scientific American, 4 May 2018
Guth wondered what would have happened if such a metastable phase transition occurred in the early universe.
—Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2017
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2023
Under a metastable regime, information is continuously created, preserved and annihilated by spatiotemporally changing coalitions among parts and processes.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2014
In an inflating universe, if a region is in a metastable vacuum, bubbles containing different vacua will form.
—Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
The averaging of subcontinental scale populations collapses the varied responses and generates a false metastable equilibrium in the data.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011
Plugging those two numbers into the stability equations reveals that the universe is… metastable.
—Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
In 2000, astronomers predicted that metastable helium should show up in certain planetary atmospheres, but a search for it—reported in 2003,—on the planet HD 209458b, came up empty.
—Alexandra Witze, Scientific American, 4 May 2018
Guth wondered what would have happened if such a metastable phase transition occurred in the early universe.
—Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metastable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near metastable
Cite this Entry
“Metastable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metastable. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
metastable
adjective
meta·sta·ble
ˌmet-ə-ˈstā-bəl
: having or characterized by only a slight margin of stability
a metastable compound
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