unstable
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un·sta·ble
(ŭn-stā′bəl)adj. un·sta·bler, un·sta·blest
1.
a. Tending strongly to change: unstable weather.
b. Not constant; fluctuating: unstable vital signs.
2.
a. Wavering or fickle: At first, he was unstable in his decisions.
b. Showing or marked by erratic or volatile emotions or behavior.
3. Not firmly placed; unsteady: an unstable ladder.
4. Chemistry
a. Decomposing readily.
b. Highly or violently reactive.
5. Physics
a. Decaying with relatively short lifetime. Used of subatomic particles.
b. Radioactive.
un·sta′ble·ness n.
un·sta′bly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
unstable
(ʌnˈsteɪbəl)adj
1. lacking stability, fixity, or firmness
2. disposed to temperamental, emotional, or psychological variability
3. (Chemistry) (of a chemical compound) readily decomposing
4. (Atomic Physics) physics
a. (of an elementary particle) having a very short lifetime
b. spontaneously decomposing by nuclear decay; radioactive: an unstable nuclide.
5. (Electronics) electronics (of an electrical circuit, mechanical body, etc) having a tendency to self-oscillation
unˈstableness n
unˈstably adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
un•sta•ble
(ʌnˈsteɪ bəl)adj.
1. not stable; not firm or firmly fixed; unsteady.
2. liable to change or fluctuate quickly: an unstable weather pattern.
3. marked by emotional instability.
4. unsteadfast; inconstant; wavering.
5. irregular in movement.
6. noting chemical compounds that readily decompose or change into other compounds.
[1175–1225]
un•sta′ble•ness, n.
un•sta′bly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
un·sta·ble
(ŭn-stā′bəl)1. Liable to change spontaneously into a nucleus or atomic particle with less mass. For example, the nucleus of uranium 238 is unstable and changes by radioactive decay into the nucleus of thorium 234, a lighter element.
2. Relating to a chemical compound that decomposes or changes into other compounds or into elements easily. Candle wax, for example, which is made of a mixture of hydrocarbons, decomposes into carbon dioxide and water when it reacts with oxygen during combustion.
3. Relating to an atom or chemical element that is likely to share electrons; reactive.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Adj. | 1. |  unstable - lacking stability or fixity or firmness; "unstable political conditions"; "the tower proved to be unstable in the high wind"; "an unstable world economy"inconstant - likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable; "inconstant affections"; "an inconstant lover"; "swear not by...the inconstant moon"- Shakespeare impermanent, temporary - not permanent; not lasting; "politics is an impermanent factor of life"- James Thurber; "impermanent palm cottages"; "a temperary arrangement"; "temporary housing" unsteady - subject to change or variation; "her unsteady walk"; "his hand was unsteady as he poured the wine"; "an unsteady voice" stable - resistant to change of position or condition; "a stable ladder"; "a stable peace"; "a stable relationship"; "stable prices" |
| 2. |  unstable - highly or violently reactive; "sensitive and highly unstable compounds"reactive - participating readily in reactions; "sodium is a reactive metal"; "free radicals are very reactive" | |
| 3. | unstable - affording no ease or reassurance; "a precarious truce" uneasy - lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance; "farmers were uneasy until rain finally came"; "uneasy about his health"; "gave an uneasy laugh"; "uneasy lies the head that wears the crown"; "an uneasy coalition government"; "an uneasy calm"; "an uneasy silence fell on the group" | |
| 4. |  unstable - suffering from severe mental illness; "of unsound mind"insane - afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement; "was declared insane"; "insane laughter" | |
| 5. | unstable - disposed to psychological variability; "his rather unstable religious convictions" irresolute - uncertain how to act or proceed; "the committee was timid and mediocre and irresolute" | |
| 6. | unstable - subject to change; variable; "a fluid situation fraught with uncertainty"; "everything was unstable following the coup" changeful, changeable - such that alteration is possible; having a marked tendency to change; "changeable behavior"; "changeable moods"; "changeable prices" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
unstable
adjective
1. changeable, volatile, unpredictable, variable, fluctuating, unsteady, fitful, inconstant The situation is unstable and potentially dangerous.
changeable stable, steady, predictable, constant
changeable stable, steady, predictable, constant
2. insecure, shaky, precarious, unsettled, wobbly, tottering, rickety, unsteady, not fixed a house built on unstable foundations
3. unpredictable, irrational, erratic, inconsistent, unreliable, temperamental, capricious, changeable, untrustworthy, vacillating He was emotionally unstable.
unpredictable rational, level-headed, stable, consistent, reliable, trustworthy
unpredictable rational, level-headed, stable, consistent, reliable, trustworthy
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
unstable
adjective1. Capable of or liable to change:
alterable, changeable, fluid, inconstant, mutable, uncertain, unsettled, unsteady, variable, variant.
Archaic: various.
2. Following no predictable pattern:
3. Lacking stability:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
nestabilní
ustabil
horjuva
nestabilan
不安定な
불안정한
nestabilen
instabil
ไม่มั่นคง
không ổn định
unstable
[ˈʌnˈsteɪbl] ADJ1. (= unsafe) [building, construction] → inestable, poco firme, poco sólido
2. (= unpredictable) [condition, economy, prices] → inestable
the country is politically unstable → el país es inestable desde el punto de vista político
the country is politically unstable → el país es inestable desde el punto de vista político
4. (Psych) [person, character] → inestable
mentally/emotionally unstable → mentalmente/emocionalmente inestable
mentally/emotionally unstable → mentalmente/emocionalmente inestable
5. (Phys) [matter, molecule] → inestable
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
unstable
[ʌnˈsteɪbəl] adj (= likely to move or fall) [rock formation, ladder] → instable
(= volatile) [situation, government, share prices] → instable
(emotionally) [person] → instable
(CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS) [compound, particle, isotope] → instable
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
unstable
adj
structure → nicht or wenig stabil; foundations also, area → unsicher; vehicle, government, country → instabil; weather → unbeständig; economy → unsicher, schwankend; prices → schwankend; (Chem, Phys) → instabil; the patient is in an unstable condition → der Zustand des Patienten ist labil or nicht stabil
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
unstable
→ غَيْرُ مُسْتَقِرّ nestabilní ustabil instabil ανισόρροπος inestable horjuva instable nestabilan instabile 不安定な 불안정한 onstabiel ustabil chwiejny instável нестабильный instabil ไม่มั่นคง dengesiz không ổn định 不稳定的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
unstable
a. inestable;
___ angina → angina ___;
___ bladder → vejiga ___.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
unstable
adj inestableEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.