Poisson's ratio

noun

Of a material in tension or compression, the ratio of the strain in the direction of the applied load to the strain normal to the load, abbreviated ν (nu).

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Meanings

nounPoisson's ratio (plural Poisson's ratios)

plural Poisson's ratios

  1. Of a material in tension or compression, the ratio of the strain in the direction of the applied load to the strain normal to the load, abbreviated ν (nu).

Origin

Named after French mathematician, mechanician and physicist Siméon Denis Poisson.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 泊松比
  • 泊松比 (Bósōngbǐ)ratio
Finnish Poissonin suhde
  • Poissonin suhderatio
French coefficient de Poisson
  • coefficient de Poissonratio
Italian modulo di Poisson
  • modulo di Poissonratio
Cite this entry
APA

Poisson's ratio. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Poisson's%20ratio

MLA

“Poisson's ratio.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Poisson's%20ratio. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Poisson's ratio,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Poisson's%20ratio.

Source: Poisson's ratio on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.