crystallographic axis

noun

, Crystallography.

1. one of the imaginary reference lines passing through the center of an ideal crystal, designated a, b, or c.

Word History and Origins

Origin of crystallographic axis¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Here there are three dissimilar dyad axes of symmetry, each coinciding with a crystallographic axis; perpendicular to them are three dissimilar planes of symmetry; there is also a centre of symmetry.

From Project Gutenberg

The crystals are usually so placed that the dyad axis coincides with the vertical crystallographic axis, and the planes of symmetry are also vertical.

From Project Gutenberg

When the crystallographic axis was parallel to the axis of the beam, the quantity of light transmitted by the crystal was a minimum.

From Project Gutenberg