acicular

American  

[uh-sik-yuh-ler] / əˈsɪk yə lər /

adjective

1. shaped like a needle.

2. Metallurgy.

   1. (of cast iron) containing ferrite in a needlelike form.

   2. (of an alloy) having a microstructure of needlelike components.

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Other Word Forms

• acicularity noun
• acicularly adverb

Etymology

Origin of acicular

First recorded in 1785–95; acicul(a) + -ar ¹

Example Sentences

They describe contaminants in talc from J&J’s Italian supplier as fibrous and “acicular,” or needle-like, tremolite.

From Reuters

Minute acicular or dendritic crystalline forms sometimes observed in glassy volcanic rocks.

From Project Gutenberg

In this disease cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, bone-marrow, muscle, the endocardium and aorta, the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, the skin and kidneys, may contain deposits of acicular crystals and amorphous granules.

From Project Gutenberg

Much of the calcium in sea-water exists as sulphate; and on evaporation of a drop of sea-water under the microscope this sulphate is deposited as acicular crystals of gypsum.

From Project Gutenberg

The plumbago occurs both amorphous, and in long acicular crystals.

From Project Gutenberg