incompressible

Everyday

1. Not able to be squashed into a smaller space. tree →
2. (science) Describing a substance whose volume stays nearly the same when you press on it, such as liquids and solids. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on states of matter, gases are compressible (air in a syringe squashes) but liquids and solids are almost incompressible, because their particles are already close together. This is why hydraulic machines use liquids. Phrases: almost incompressible, incompressible liquid.

Examples

• Water is almost incompressible, so you can't squash it in a syringe. tree →
• Air is compressible, but bricks are incompressible. tree →
• Hydraulic brakes work because oil is nearly incompressible. tree →
• We pushed the plunger: the water stayed the same; it's incompressible. tree →
• Solids are incompressible because their particles are packed tight. tree →
• We squeezed a sealed bottle of water and found it almost incompressible. tree →

Note

Opposite: «compressible». Strictly, nothing is perfectly incompressible; liquids squash a tiny bit under huge pressure, so science says «nearly incompressible».