malleability
malleability Lexical Profile
malleability Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The physical property of a metal or other solid material that allows it to be hammered, pressed, or rolled into thin sheets without breaking or cracking.
"Gold is prized by jewelers for its exceptional malleability, allowing a single ounce to be beaten into a remarkably thin sheet."
The quality of being easily influenced, adapted, trained, or shaped by external forces or circumstances.
"Neuroscientists often study the remarkable malleability of the young human brain as it adapts to learning new languages."
Word Nuance & Usage
In materials science, malleability refers specifically to a metal's ability to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets under compression without cracking, whereas ductility refers to its ability to be stretched into wire under tensile stress.
• Rhymes for malleability
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 16th century from 'malleable', which derives via Old French from Medieval Latin 'malleabilis', ultimately from Latin 'malleus' meaning 'hammer'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.