nondimensionalization

noun

The partial or full removal of units from an equation involving physical quantities by a suitable substitution of variables, in order, for example, to simplify and parameterize problems where measured units are involved.

Scrabble 33

Meanings

nounnondimensionalization (countable and uncountable, plural nondimensionalizations)

plural nondimensionalizations · alternative nondimensionalisation

  1. countableuncountableengineeringThe partial or full removal of units from an equation involving physical quantities by a suitable substitution of variables, in order, for example, to simplify and parameterize problems where measured units are involved.

    Each computer code will have a set of reference nondimensionalizations similar to these; a specific example is given in Section 3.5.3.

    2015, Russell M. Cummings, William H. Mason, Scott A. Morton, David R. McDaniel, Applied Computational Aerodynamics, Cambridge University Press, page 118
    2 more examples

    This appendix outlines the role of several key dimensional and nondimensional parameters in micro- and nanoscale fluid mechanics that come from nondimensionalization of governing equations. A key advantage of nondimensionalization is that it leads to a compact description of flow parameters (i.e., Re) and thus leads to generalization. Nondimensionalization can be a powerful tool, but it is useful only if implemented with insight into the physics of the problems.

    2010, Brian J. Kirby, Micro- and Nanoscale Fluid Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, page 440

    We show how our Python interface outperforms the existing text-file-based configuration mechanism, providing features like automatic nondimensionalization of physical quantities and handling of complex parameter dependencies.

    2015, Martin Bauer, Florian Schornbaum, Christian Godenschwager, Matthias Markl, Daniela Anderl, Harald Köstler, Ulrich Rüde, “A Python Extension for the Massively Parallel Multiphysics Simulation Framework waLBerla”, in arXiv

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Germanic*ne
  3. Proto-Indo-European*ís?
  4. Proto-Indo-European*h₁óynos
  5. Proto-Germanic*ainaz
  6. Proto-Germanic*nainaz
  7. Proto-West Germanic*nain
  8. Old Englishnān
  9. Middle Englishnon
  10. Old Englishnān
  11. Old Englishnān-
  12. Middle Englishnon-
  13. Englishnon-
  14. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  15. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  16. Proto-Indo-European*d(w)is-
  17. Proto-Italic*dis-
  18. Latindis-
  19. Proto-Indo-European*med-
  20. Proto-Indo-European*meh₁-
  21. Proto-Italic*mētis
  22. Latinmētior
  23. Latindīmētior
  24. Latindīmēnsiō
  25. Englishdimension
  26. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  27. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  28. Englishdimensional
  29. Englishnondimensional
  30. Englishnondimensionalization

From nondimensional + -ization.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Entdimensionalisierung, Entdimensionierung
  • Entdimensionalisierungpartial or complete removal of units from an equation
  • Entdimensionierungpartial or complete removal of units from an equation
Cite this entry
APA

nondimensionalization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nondimensionalization

MLA

“nondimensionalization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nondimensionalization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nondimensionalization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nondimensionalization.

Source: nondimensionalization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.