lattice
Americannoun
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lattices
plural
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a structure of crossed wooden or metal strips usually arranged to form a diagonal pattern of open spaces between the strips.
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a window, gate, or the like consisting of such a structure.
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Physics. the structure of fissionable and nonfissionable materials geometrically arranged within a nuclear reactor.
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Also called Bravais lattice, crystal lattice, space lattice. Crystallography. an arrangement in space of isolated points lattice points in a regular pattern, showing the positions of atoms, molecules, or ions in the structure of a crystal.
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Mathematics. a partially ordered set in which every subset containing exactly two elements has a greatest lower bound or intersection and a least upper bound or union.
verb (used with object)
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to furnish with a lattice or latticework.
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to form into or arrange like latticework.
noun
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Also called: latticework. an open framework of strips of wood, metal, etc, arranged to form an ornamental pattern
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a gate, screen, etc, formed of such a framework
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( as modifier )
a lattice window
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something, such as a decorative or heraldic device, resembling such a framework
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an array of objects or points in a periodic pattern in two or three dimensions, esp an array of atoms, ions, etc, in a crystal or an array of points indicating their positions in space See also Bravais lattice
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of lattice
1350–1400; Middle English latis < Middle French lattis, derivative of latte lath < Germanic; see lath
Explanation
A lattice is a decorative wooden frame or fence. Your grandmother's prize garden might include a lattice covered in bright pink roses. An ornamental design — made usually of wood — that you might see on the porch of a house or a garden trellis, is a lattice. Lattice is often made of a criss-crossed, diamond pattern of wood or metal slats. Lattice is a nice material for a porch because it lets in air and light but still gives privacy. You can also call something that resembles such a pattern lattice, like lattice wallpaper, or a lattice-patterned silver necklace.
Vocabulary lists containing lattice
"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain
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Chemistry - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Faster endocytosis weakened the lattice and triggered a positive feedback loop.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
The structure is a lattice located just beneath the surface of neurons and is known as the membrane-associated periodic skeleton, or MPS.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
It was made from two sheets of metal lattice mesh, which HSE inspectors determined was poorly designed.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
The Hammetschwand Lift, a rocket-shaped metal lattice tower and the highest outdoor lift in Europe, shoots up 152 metres to the mountain summit.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
A series of chariots drifts along a shiny lattice of cables, lifting well-dressed people from one balcony to the next.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
In Australia, First Graphene says it has found a way to slow the spread of fire in plastics by adding graphene – tiny flakes of carbon atoms arranged in honeycomb lattices.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2025
Based on this insight, they developed the theoretical framework of "optical thermodynamics," describing how light in nonlinear lattices can undergo processes analogous to expansion, compression, and even phase transitions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2025
"Mechanisms that we identify for spread on circular lattices remain valid in higher dimensions," explained Rahimian.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 23, 2024
The reason for this lies deep inside the nitinol, which has two crystal lattices -- two phases that can transform into each other.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 2, 2024
Everything is composed of webs and lattices and upheavals of sound and texture.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
A piped-in soundtrack simulates urban din, and latticed wood alcoves emulate storefronts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
Glasgow's coat of arms includes a tree, a bird, a fish and a bell - but this giant steel latticed structure beside the Clyde has become an unofficial emblem of the city.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026
Board fencing is the most common way to get the job done, but using latticed or custom-grid fencing can offer more depth and interest.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 17, 2023
The Sultana, who is a stout but beautiful young woman, sat upon silk cushions striped with silver, near a latticed window overlooking the sea.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022
The house presented two pointed gables in its front; the windows were latticed and narrow: the front door was narrow too, one step led up to it.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Its narrator is an Ohio housewife who reflects on her past, her family and her country while latticing cherry pies.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2019
We got a sense that this episode would be awkward, but the thread latticing the episode turned out to be much darker.
From Time ● Apr. 9, 2012
The nation displayed their love to Charles the Second, by latticing the forests.
From An History of Birmingham (1783) by William Hutton
It was erected Mexican fashion, the roof supported on stout poles, and then mudded walls were built up on arrowweed latticing.
From Mormon Settlement in Arizona A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the Desert by James H. McClintock
He was completely hidden, except in front, where the wicker latticing did not extend.
From The Radio Boys on the Mexican Border by Gerald Breckenridge
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
