resistance

Everyday

1. Resistance is fighting against something or refusing to accept it. tree →
2. In science, a force that slows down a moving thing, like air resistance or water resistance. tree →
3. In electricity, how much a material makes it hard for current to flow. tree →
4. The ability of the body to fight illness, or of a germ to survive medicine. tree →

In the lessons

Used in science lessons about forces: air resistance slows a parachute, water resistance slows a swimmer; streamlined shapes have less resistance. In electricity: wires have resistance. In history: the Resistance fought against invaders. Phrase: "the path of least resistance" = the easiest way.

Examples

• Air resistance slows the parachute down. tree →
• Fish have streamlined bodies to reduce water resistance. tree →
• Thin wires have more resistance. tree →
• The people put up resistance against the invaders. tree →
• Exercise builds your resistance to illness. tree →
• Some germs have resistance to antibiotics. tree →
• Friction and air resistance are forces. tree →
• At length, after a great show of resistance, he fell heavily to the ground. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable. Verb: resist; adjective: resistant (water-resistant watch). In science, resistance acts in the opposite direction to the movement.

Meaning