| thixotropy | The property of certain gels of becoming less viscous when shaken or subjected to shearing forces and returning to the original viscosity upon standing (e.g., synovial fluid, ferrous hydroxide gel); a characteristic of a system exhibiting a decrease in viscosity with an increase in the rate of shear, usually a function of time. Synonym: reclotting phenomenon. Origin: G. Thixis, a touching, + trope, turning (05 Mar 2000) |
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