residual stress

noun

: a stress that exists within a solid body though no external stress-producing forces are acting and that is due to some inequality of previous treatment of adjacent parts

poorly annealed glass may be highly unstable because of residual stresses and shatter from a slight shock

compare rupert's drop

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!