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Thixotropy is the property of some non-newtonian pseudoplastic fluids to show a time-dependent change in viscosity; the longer the fluid undergoes shear, the lower its viscosity. A thixotropic fluid is a fluid which takes a finite amount of time to reach an equilibrium viscosity when introduced to a step change in shear rate. However, this is not a universal definition; the term is sometimes applied to pseudoplastic fluids without a viscosity/time component. It is important to note the distinction between thixotropic fluid and shear-thinning fluid. The former displays a decrease in viscosity over time at a constant shear rate, while the latter displays decreasing viscosity with increasing shear rate. Fluids which exhibit the opposite property, in which shaking for a time causes solidification, are called rheopectic, sometimes called anti-thixotropic, and are much less common.