smectic
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.74 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
adj
adj
Whose molecules are aligned in layers, with the molecules lying perpendicular to the plane of the layers.
noun
A liquid crystal having the molecules aligned in this way; a phase of a liquid crystal in which the molecules are so aligned.
Example Sentences
- "The smectic phases, which are found at lower temperatures than the nematic, form well-defined layers that can slide over one another in a manner similar to that of soap.[…]There are many different smectic phases, all characterized by different types and degrees of positional and orientational order.^([Wikipedia])"
- "Before studying the fluctuations and defects of the bilayers in the smectic phase, one should first characterize the equilibrium structure of the simulated lamellar phase."
Etymology
From Latin smecticus, from Ancient Greek σμηκτικός (smēktikós), from σμήχειν (smḗkhein, “to wipe, to cleanse”) + -ικός (-ikós, “-ic”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: smecticus, σμηκτικός
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
smectic phase