epitaxis

[ ep-i-tak-sis ]

noun

, Crystallography.

, plural ep·i·tax·es [ep-i-, tak, -seez].

1. an oriented overgrowth of crystalline material upon the surface of another crystal of different chemical composition but similar structure.

Other Words From

• epi·taxi·al epi·taxic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epitaxis¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1950–55; epi-, -taxis