astatic

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: a=stat=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

astatic, a. [Pref. a- not + static.].

 Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given direction.  [1913 Webster]

Astatic pair (Magnetism), a pair of magnetic needles so mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some galvanometers.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

astatic, adj.
1 not static; unstable or unsteady.
2 Physics not tending to keep one position or direction.

Idiom

astatic galvanometer one in which the effect of the earth's magnetic field on the meter needle is greatly reduced.

Etymology

Gk astatos unstable f. a- not + sta- stand

ROGET THESAURUS

astatic

Levity

N levity, lightness, imponderability, buoyancy, volatility, feather, dust, mote, down, thistle, down, flue, cobweb, gossamer, straw, cork, bubble, balloon, float, buoy, ether, air, leaven, ferment, barm, yeast, lighter-than-air balloon, helium balloon, hydrogen balloon, hot air balloon, convection, thermal draft, thermal, light, subtile, airy, imponderous, imponderable, astatic, weightless, ethereal, sublimated, gossamery, suberose, suberous, uncompressed, volatile, buoyant, floating, portable, light as a feather, light as a thistle, light as air, lighter than air, rise like a balloon, float like a balloon.