n. 1 the act or an instance of resisting; refusal to comply. 2 the power of resisting (showed resistance to wear and tear). 3 Biol. the ability to withstand adverse conditions. 4 the impeding, slowing, or stopping effect exerted by one material thing on another. 5 Physics a the property of hindering the conduction of electricity, heat, etc. b the measure of this in a body. °Symb.: R. 6 a resistor. 7 (in full resistance movement) a secret organization resisting authority, esp. in an occupied country.
[ ME f. F résistance, résistence f. LL resistentia (as RESIST) ]