poise
- 01 C2 Proficiency
a technical unit used to measure how thick or sticky a liquid is.
a CGS unit of dynamic viscosity, defined as one dyne-second per square centimetre.
Simple“The scientist measured the oil's thickness in poise to see if it was right for the machine.”
In context“The experiment required a fluid with a specific poise value to ensure the flow remained laminar within the narrow glass tubing.”
“But Hearts rediscovered their poise to edge the shootout 4-3 and secure what may be their most significant result in Europe for more than two decades.”
“The contrast between his meek performance and that of his compatriot and opposite number Igor Thiago, combining power and poise, felt significant.”
From Middle English poys, poyse, from Anglo-Norman pois, Middle French pois (“weight”) and Anglo-Norman poise, Middle French poise (“measure of weight”), from Latin pendere (“to weigh, ponder, think”). Doublet of peise.
From French physicist and physiologist Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.