Definition of: hysteresis

(his′tə·rē′sis) noun
1. Physics a The tendency of a magnetic substance to persist in any state of magnetization; that property of a medium by virtue of which work is done in changing the direction or intensity of magnetic force among its parts. b Some analogous phenomenon, as in dielectrics. When there has been a decrease in magnetization it is called hysteretic loss, and the hysteretic loss in ergs per cubic centimeter per cycle is called the hysteretic constant.
2. Biochem. The influence of the past history of a colloid upon its present condition and behavior.
3. Any state of a material or substance which can be adequately described only in terms of its previous history. [<Gk. hysterēsis deficiency <hystereein lag]
—hys·ter·et·ic (his′tə·ret′ik) adjective