noun, plural den·si·ties.
- the state or quality of being dense; compactness; closely set or crowded condition.
- stupidity; slow-wittedness; obtuseness.
- the number of inhabitants, dwellings, or the like, per unit area: The commissioner noted that the population density of certain city blocks had fallen dramatically.
- Physics. mass per unit volume.
- Electricity.
- the quantity of electricity per unit of volume at a point in space, or the quantity per unit of area at a point on a surface.
- current density.
- the degree of opacity of a substance, medium, etc., that transmits light.
- Photography. the relative degree of opacity of an area of a negative or transparency, often expressed logarithmically.
- Computers. a measure of the compactness of data saved on a storage medium, as disk or tape, or displayed on an electronic screen.
noun plural -ties
- the degree to which something is filled, crowded, or occupiedhigh density of building in towns
- obtuseness; stupidity
- a measure of the compactness of a substance, expressed as its mass per unit volume. It is measured in kilograms per cubic metre or pounds per cubic footSymbol: ρ See also relative density
- a measure of a physical quantity per unit of length, area, or volumeSee charge density, current density
- physics photog See transmission density, reflection density
c.1600, from French densité (16c.), from Old French dempsité (13c.), from Latin densitas “thickness,” from densus “thick, dense” (see dense).
n.
- The mass per unit volume of a substance at a specified pressure and temperature.
- The quantity of something per unit measure, especially per unit length, area, or volume.
- A measure of the quantity of some physical property (usually mass) per unit length, area, or volume (usually volume).♦ Mass density is a measure of the mass of a substance per unit volume. Most substances (especially gases such as air) increase in density as their pressure is increases or as their temperature decreases.♦ Energy density is a measure of the amount of energy (often in the form of electromagnetic radiation) per unit volume in a region of space or some material. See also Boyle’s law.
The relative heaviness of objects, measured in units of mass or weight per units of volume. (See specific gravity.)