photoelastic

P3H4O1T1O1E1L1A1S1T1I1C3

adjective

exhibiting birefringence when stressed

OriginEnglish elastic ← French élastique ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectivephotoelastic (comparative more photoelastic, superlative most photoelastic)

comparative more photoelastic · superlative most photoelastic

  1. exhibiting birefringence when stressed
  2. of, or relating to photoelasticity

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Frenchélastique
  9. Englishelastic
  10. Englishphotoelastic

From photo- + elastic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photoelastic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoelastic

MLA

“photoelastic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoelastic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photoelastic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoelastic.

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