Astatic

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Astatic \A*stat"ic\, a. [Pref. a- not + static.] (Magnetism)
     Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite
     position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle,
     when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to
     point in a given direction.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     {Astatic pair} (Magnetism), a pair of magnetic needles so
        mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some
        galvanometers.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  astatic
       adj : not static or stable