Meanings
plural Reynolds numbers
- natural sciencesA dimensionless parameter that determines the behavior of viscous flow patterns. In pipe flow a value less than roughly 2,000 (known as the critical Reynolds number) produces laminar flow, one above about 3,000 produces turbulent flow (intermediate values produce unpredictable behavior).
Reynold Number^([sic]) — It determines the state of flow of liquid through a pipe […]
1995, Kalra Publications Pvt. Ltd., “Supreme Pocket Master: Physics Formula”, 1st Edition, page 136, verso1 more example
One certainly can argue that not all low-speed streaks lead to liftup, although if the local Reynolds number exceeds the transition limit, it is certain that eventual transition will occur to the hairpin vortex liftup, which ultimately leads to the breakup state.
1995, William Lawrence Keith, Flow Noise Modeling, Measurement, and Control, page 45
Origin
Named after British engineer Osborne Reynolds.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 雷諾數 /雷诺数
- 雷諾數 /雷诺数 (Léinuòshù)dimensionless parameter of flow
Hungarian Reynolds-féle szám
- Reynolds-féle számdimensionless parameter of flow
Japanese レイノルズ数
- レイノルズ数 (Reinoruzu-sū)dimensionless parameter of flow
Polish liczba Reynoldsa
- liczba Reynoldsadimensionless parameter of flow
Portuguese número de Reynolds
- número de Reynoldsdimensionless parameter of flow
Russian число́ Рейнольдса
- число́ Рейнольдса (čisló Rejnolʹdsa)dimensionless parameter of flow
Cite this entry
Reynolds number. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Reynolds%20number
“Reynolds number.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Reynolds%20number. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Reynolds number,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Reynolds%20number.
Source: Reynolds number on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.