noun
definition
A particle, etc. in the metastable state.
adjective
definition
Of or pertaining to a physical or chemical state that is relatively long-lived, but may decay to a lower energy state when slightly perturbed or through a quantum transition.
Examples of metastable in a Sentence
Though carbon passes far more readily under most conditions into the state of cementite than into that of graphite, yet of the two graphite is the more stable and cementite the less stable, or the ' metastable " form.
The production of materials with novel structures from doubly metastable liquids has not previously been considered.
Hence, we need to rationalize the kinetic factors that can lead to the observation of metastable polymorphs.