clathrate

[ klath-reyt ]

adjective

1. Biology. resembling a lattice; divided or marked like latticework.

noun

1. Chemistry. a substance in which a molecule of one compound fills a cavity within the crystal lattice of another compound.

clathrate

/ ˈklæθreɪt /

adjective

1. resembling a net or lattice

noun

1. chem a solid compound in which molecules of one substance are physically trapped in the crystal lattice of another

Word History and Origins

Origin of clathrate¹

1615–25; < Latin clāt ( h ) rātus, past participle of clāt ( h ) rāre to fit with bars, verbal derivative of clāt ( h ) ra bars, lattice < Greek, Doric equivalent of Attic klâithra, plural of klêithron bar; clithral

Word History and Origins

Origin of clathrate¹

C17: from Latin clāthrāre to provide with a lattice, from Greek klēthra, from klaithron a bar

Example Sentences

Johnson placed the proteins in the pressure vessel and adjusted the system to mimic the pressure and temperature conditions required for clathrate formation.

From Science Daily

Nguyen, A. H. & Molinero, V. Identification of clathrate hydrates, hexagonal ice, cubic ice, and liquid water in simulations: the CHILL+ algorithm.

From Nature

The new clathrate, by contrast, is empty, though it didn’t start that way.

From Science Magazine

Most of the seeping vents were located around 500m down, which is just the right temperature and pressure to create a sludgy confection of ice and gas called methane hydrate, or clathrate.

From BBC

But the clathrate release problem is in a rather different category from the runaway greenhouse issue.

From New York Times