Origin: Latin suffix -able
Metastable has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
A particle, etc. in the metastable state.
(of physical systems) continuing in its present state of equilibrium unless sufficiently disturbed to pass to a more stable state of equilibrium
Of or pertaining to a physical or chemical state that is relatively long-lived, but may decay to a lower energy state when slightly perturbed or through a quantum transition.