compressibility (kompresibiliti)

[= F. comp res sib i lité = Sp. compresibilidad = Pg. compre ibilidade = It. comp res sib i lità: see com pre ible and -bility.] The quality of being compre ible, or of yielding to pre ure; the quality of being capable of compre ion into a smaller space or compa : as, the compre ibility of elastic fluids. The compre ibility of bodies arises from their porosity; when a body is compre ed into a smaller bulk, the size of its pores is diminished, or its con stituent particles are brought into closer contact, while its quantity of matter remains the same. All bodies probably are compre ible in a greater or le degree. Those bodies which return to their former shape and dimensions when the compre ing force is removed are said to be elastic. See elastic. The great compre ibility , if I may so speak, of the air. Boyle , Works, III. 507. Compre ibility , implying the closer approach of the constituent particles of the body, is utterly out of the question, unle empty space exists between these partiJ. Fiske , Cosmic Philos., 1. 3. cles. compre ible (kom-pres'i-bl), a. [= F. com pre ible = Sp. compresible = Pg. compre ivel = It. compre i bile,