idiomorphic

American  

[id-ee-uh-mawr-fik] / ˌɪd i əˈmɔr fɪk /

adjective

1. Also (in a rock) noting or pertaining to a mineral constituent having its own characteristic outward crystalline form unaltered by the other constituents of the rock; automorphic.

2. having its own characteristic form.

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idiomorphic British  

/ ˌɪdɪəʊˈmɔːfɪk /

adjective

1. (of minerals) occurring naturally in the form of well-developed crystals

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Other Word Forms

• idiomorphically adverb
• idiomorphism noun

Etymology

Origin of idiomorphic

1885–90; < Greek idiómorph ( os ) having an individual form ( idio-, -morphous ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Nabokov's treatment of these themes is idiomorphic; his form is flashingly and immutably his own.

From Time Magazine Archive

Typical nepheline-dolerites are scarce, and consist of idiomorphic augite, surrounded by nepheline.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various

The commonest type of structure in dolerite is the ophitic, which results from the felspar of the rock having crystallized before the augite; the latter mineral forms shapeless masses in which the idiomorphic felspars lie.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various

Many felsites contain porphyritic crystals of clear quartz in rounded blebs, more or less idiomorphic felspar, and occasionally biotite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

The augite is mostly a variety of diopside and is only occasionally idiomorphic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various