pleochroism
[ plee-ok-roh-iz-uh m ]
/ pliˈɒk roʊˌɪz əm /
noun
the property of certain crystals of exhibiting different colors when viewed from different directions under transmitted light.
Compare dichroism(def 1), trichroism.
Origin of pleochroism
First recorded in 1855–60;
pleochro(ic) +
-ism
Words nearby pleochroism
plenum,
plenum system,
plenum ventilation,
pleo-,
pleochroic,
pleochroism,
pleocytosis,
pleomastia,
pleomorphic,
pleomorphic lipoma,
pleomorphism
Example sentences from the Web for pleochroism
The pleochroism is strong, the pleochroic colours being usually green, yellow and brown.
British Dictionary definitions for pleochroism
pleochroism
/ (plɪˈɒkrəʊˌɪzəm) /
noun
a property of certain crystals of absorbing light to an extent that depends on the orientation of the electric vector of the light with respect to the optic axes of the crystal. The effect occurs in uniaxial crystals (dichroism) and esp in biaxial crystals (trichroism)
Derived forms of pleochroism
pleochroic (ˌpliːəˈkrəʊɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for pleochroism
C19:
pleo- +
-chroism, from Greek
khrōs skin colour