den
si
ty
Plural
densities
1
(physics) the degree to which a substance is compacted, measured by dividing its mass by its volume
- The density of water is approximately 1 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
- Air has a much lower density compared to water, which is why objects float in water but fall through air.
- The density of a material can affect its physical properties, such as its strength and buoyancy.
- The concept of density is important in geophysics for understanding the composition and structure of Earth's interior.
- To determine the density of an object, you divide its mass by its volume.
Synonyms:
2
the spatial property of having elements packed closely together, typically expressed as the number of units per given area or volume
- Urban planners analyze population density to determine where to build new transit lines.
- The forest survey measured tree density at 550 specimens per hectare.
- High seating density in the theater made it difficult for latecomers to find open spots.
- Engineers consider traffic density on highways when designing lane width and signage.
- The aquarium monitor showed fish density rising so sharply that filtration rates had to increase.
Antonyms:
3
the degree to which light is blocked or absorbed by a photographic filter or film, usually measured in stops or optical density units
In photography, density refers to the degree of light and dark in an image or a photographic print. It describes how much light is absorbed or blocked by the film or paper, affecting the image's contrast and tonal range. Higher density areas appear darker because they have more light absorption, while lower density areas are lighter. Managing density is important for achieving the desired exposure and contrast in photos, ensuring that details are visible and well-balanced throughout the image.
- The photographer adjusted the filter density to reduce glare.
- The technician calibrated the density of the photographic plate.
- The optical density of the lens coating affects image contrast.
- She measured the density of the filter before the shoot.
- Lowering the density allowed more light to reach the film.