Phrase guide

mean free path

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The average distance travelled between two similar events; especially by molecules in a gas or liquid, electrons or phonons in a crystal or neutrons in a moderator.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: keskimääräinen vapaa matka — average distance travelled by molecules in a gas or liquid
  • Portuguese: livre percurso médio — average distance travelled by molecules in a gas or liquid
  • Romanian: drum liber mijlociu — average distance travelled by molecules in a gas or liquid
  • Spanish: camino libre medio — average distance travelled by molecules in a gas or liquid