cohesive energy

cohesive energy (countable and uncountable, plural cohesive energies)

1. (physics) The difference between the average energy of the free atoms and that of the atoms of a solid (especially a crystal).
   • 2012, A. Yakoubi, O. Baraka, B. Bouhafs, “Structural and electronic properties of the Laves phase based on rare earth type BaM2 (M = Rh, Pd, Pt)”, in Results in Physics‎, volume 2, →DOI, pages 58-65:

     The cohesive energy is a measure of the strength of the forces that bind atoms together in the solid state and is descriptive in studying the phase stability. The cohesive energy […] is defined as the total energy of the constituent atoms minus the total energy of the compound […] The computed cohesive energies are 6.101 eV/atom, 4.774 eV/atom and 6.512 eV/atom for BaRh₂, BaPd₂ and BaPt₂, respectively.

2. (physical chemistry) Standard enthalpy of formation of the constituent atoms from a solid phase.