dichroism

[ dahy-kroh-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. Crystallography. pleochroism of a uniaxial crystal such that it exhibits two different colors when viewed from two different directions under transmitted light.
2. Chemistry. the exhibition of essentially different colors by certain solutions in different degrees of dilution or concentration.

dichroism

/ ˈdaɪkrəʊˌɪzəm /

noun

1. Also calleddichromaticism a property of a uniaxial crystal, such as tourmaline, of showing a perceptible difference in colour when viewed along two different axes in transmitted white light See also pleochroism
2. a property of certain solutions as a result of which the wavelength (colour) of the light transmitted depends on the concentration of the solution and the length of the path of the light within the solution

Word History and Origins

Origin of dichroism¹

1810–20; < Greek díchro ( os ) ( dichroic ) + -ism

Example Sentences

Neither amorphous minerals, like opal, nor minerals crystallizing in the cubic system, like Dichroism.

From Project Gutenberg

The marked dichroism of tourmaline will also help detect it.

From Project Gutenberg

The dichroism is feeble too, whereas that of tourmaline is strong.

From Project Gutenberg

The zircon, for example, is strongly doubly refracting, but shows hardly any dichroism.

From Project Gutenberg

Not all stones that are doubly refracting exhibit dichroism.

From Project Gutenberg