orthorhombic

[ awr-thuh-rom-bik ]

adjectiveCrystallography.
  1. noting or pertaining to a system of crystallization characterized by three unequal axes intersecting at right angles; rhombic; trimetric.

Origin of orthorhombic

1
First recorded in 1865–70; ortho- + rhombic

Other words from orthorhombic

  • pseu·do·or·tho·rhom·bic, adjective

Words Nearby orthorhombic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use orthorhombic in a sentence

  • Though closely resembling the tetragonal torbernite in form, it crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and is optically biaxial.

  • It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and is isomorphous with stibnite (Sb2S3), which it closely resembles in appearance.

  • A sulphate of barium crystallizing in orthorhombic prisms usually of tabular habit.

    Geology | William J. Miller
  • Crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, usually in tabular form, but crystals not common.

    Geology | William J. Miller
  • orthorhombic crystals common, usually prisms capped at one end by pyramided faces and abruptly terminated at the other.

    Geology | William J. Miller

British Dictionary definitions for orthorhombic

orthorhombic

/ (ˌɔːθəʊˈrɒmbɪk) /


adjective
  1. crystallog relating to the crystal system characterized by three mutually perpendicular unequal axes: Also: rhombic, trimetric

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for orthorhombic

orthorhombic

[ ôr′thō-rŏmbĭk ]


  1. Relating to a crystal having three axes of different lengths intersecting at right angles. The mineral topaz has orthorhombic crystals. See illustration at crystal.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.