dichroism

American  

[dahy-kroh-iz-uhm] / ˈdaɪ kroʊˌɪz əm /

noun

1. Crystallography. pleochroism of a uniaxial crystal such that it exhibits two different colors when viewed from two different directions under transmitted light.

2. Chemistry. the exhibition of essentially different colors by certain solutions in different degrees of dilution or concentration.

---

dichroism British  

/ ˈdaɪkrəʊˌɪzəm /

noun

1. Also called: dichromaticism.  a property of a uniaxial crystal, such as tourmaline, of showing a perceptible difference in colour when viewed along two different axes in transmitted white light See also pleochroism

2. a property of certain solutions as a result of which the wavelength (colour) of the light transmitted depends on the concentration of the solution and the length of the path of the light within the solution

---

Etymology

Origin of dichroism

1810–20; < Greek díchro ( os ) ( see dichroic) + -ism