auxetic
|aux-e-tic|
🇺🇸
/ɔkˈsiːtɪk/
🇬🇧
/ɔːkˈsiːtɪk/
expands when stretched
Etymology
'auxetic' originates from Greek, specifically the root 'aux-' from 'auxein,' where 'aux-' meant 'to increase' or 'growth'.
'auxetic' was coined in modern English (20th century) in materials science from Greek 'auxetikos' (meaning 'increasing' or 'related to growth') via scientific New Latin/technical formation and usage in English.
Initially the Greek root meant 'to increase' or 'to grow', but in modern English 'auxetic' evolved to mean 'having the property of expanding laterally when stretched (negative Poisson's ratio)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a material or structure that exhibits auxetic behavior (i.e., expands laterally when stretched).
Researchers tested several auxetics to evaluate their energy absorption under impact.
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Adjective 1
describing a material that becomes thicker (expands laterally) when stretched — i.e., it has a negative Poisson's ratio.
Auxetic foams become thicker across their cross-section when stretched, making them useful for impact protection.
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Last updated: 2025/11/29 23:32