pleochroism

noun

ple·och·ro·ism plē-ˈä-krə-ˌwi-zəm

: the property of a crystal of showing different colors when viewed by light polarized in different directions

pleochroic

ˌplē-ə-ˈkrō-ik

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Pleochroismus, from pleo- pleo- + -chroismus, in Dichroismus dichroism

Note: The term was apparently introduced by the German mineralogist Wilhelm Haidinger (1795-1871); see "Ueber den Pleochroismus der Krystalle," Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Band 65, no. 5 (1845), pp. 1-29.

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pleochroism was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Pleochroism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pleochroism. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

pleochroism

noun

ple·och·ro·ism plē-ˈäk-rə-ˌwiz-əm

: the property of a crystal of showing different colors when viewed by light that vibrates parallel to different axes

pleochroic

ˌplē-ə-ˈkrō-ik

adjective

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pleochroism

noun

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Medical Definition