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amorphous solid
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solid, in which atoms and/or molecules are disordered like in a liquid
An amorphous solid is a material where the atoms and molecules are randomly arranged, similar to how they're organized in a liquid, even though the material is solid and holds its shape. This matters because many useful everyday materials—like glass, plastics, and certain metals—are amorphous, and their disordered structure gives them different properties than crystalline solids with organized atomic arrangements.
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In condensed matter physics and materials science, an amorphous solid (or non-crystalline solid) is a solid that lacks the long-range order that is a characteristic of a crystal. The terms "glass" and "glassy solid" are sometimes used synonymously with amorphous solid; however, these terms refer specifically to amorphous materials that undergo a glass transition. Examples of amorphous solids include glasses, metallic glasses, and certain types of plastics and polymers.
Etymology