pleochroism

American  

[plee-ok-roh-iz-uhm] / pliˈɒk roʊˌɪz əm /

noun

1. the property of certain crystals of exhibiting different colors when viewed from different directions under transmitted light.

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pleochroism British  

/ ˌpliːəˈkrəʊɪk, plɪˈɒkrəʊˌɪzəm /

noun

1. a property of certain crystals of absorbing light to an extent that depends on the orientation of the electric vector of the light with respect to the optic axes of the crystal. The effect occurs in uniaxial crystals ( dichroism ) and esp in biaxial crystals ( trichroism )

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Other Word Forms

• pleochroic adjective

Etymology

Origin of pleochroism

First recorded in 1855–60; pleochro(ic) + -ism

Example Sentences

Iceland-spar is extensively used in the construction of Nicol's prisms for polariscopes, polarizing microscopes and saccharimeters, and of dichroscopes for testing the pleochroism of gem-stones.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various

The pleochroism is strong, the pleochroic colours being usually green, yellow and brown.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various

Biotite, containing haloes, 223; pleochroism of, 235; intensified pleochroism in halo, 235.

From The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays by Joly, John

It is essentially a basic aluminium borosilicate, belonging to the orthorhombic system; it occurs usually in fibrous forms, of smalt-blue, greenish-blue, lavender or almost black colour, and exhibits strong pleochroism.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 8 "Dubner" to "Dyeing" by Various

The pleochroism of some crystals is so strong that when they are viewed through in different directions they exhibit marked differences in colour.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various