epitaxy

noun

ep·i·taxy ˈe-pə-ˌtak-sē

: the growth on a crystalline substrate of a crystalline substance that mimics the orientation of the substrate

epitaxial

ˌe-pə-ˈtak-sē-əl

adjective

epitaxially

ˌe-pə-ˈtak-sē-ə-lē

adverb

Examples of epitaxy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The previous method, molecular beam epitaxy, resulted in larger quantum dots that were less useful and unstable at all but the most extremely cold temperatures. —

Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French épitaxie, from épi- epi- + Greek táxis "arrangement, disposition" + French -ie -y entry 2 — more at taxis

Note: The term was introduced by the French mineralogist Louis Royer (1895-1980) in "Recherches expérimentales sur l'épitaxie ou orientation mutuelle de cristaux d'espèces différentes," Bulletin de la Société française de minéralogie, tome 51 (1928), p. 8.

First Known Use

circa 1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of epitaxy was circa 1931

See more words from the same year