Real Dictionary

hysteresis in American English
a lag of effect when the forces acting on a body are changed, as a lag in magnetization (magnetic hysteresis) of a ferromagnetic substance when the magnetizing force is changed
noun: the lag in response exhibited by a body in reacting to changes in the forces, esp. magnetic forces, affecting it

hysteresis in British English
noun: the lag in a variable property of a system with respect to the effect producing it as this effect varies, esp the phenomenon in which the magnetic flux density of a ferromagnetic material lags behind the changing external magnetic field strength

hysteresis in Electrical Engineering
noun: Hysteresis is something that happens with magnetic materials so that, if a varying magnetizing signal is applied, the resulting magnetism that is created follows the applied signal, but with a delay.