clathrate

American  

[klath-reyt] / ˈklæθ reɪt /

adjective

1. Biology.  resembling a lattice; divided or marked like latticework.

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noun

1. Chemistry.  a substance in which a molecule of one compound fills a cavity within the crystal lattice of another compound.

clathrate British  

/ ˈklæθreɪt /

adjective

1. resembling a net or lattice

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noun

1. chem a solid compound in which molecules of one substance are physically trapped in the crystal lattice of another

Etymology

Origin of clathrate

1615–25; < Latin clāt ( h ) rātus, past participle of clāt ( h ) rāre to fit with bars, verbal derivative of clāt ( h ) ra bars, lattice < Greek, Doric equivalent of Attic klâithra, plural of klêithron bar; clithral

Example Sentences

Johnson placed the proteins in the pressure vessel and adjusted the system to mimic the pressure and temperature conditions required for clathrate formation.

From Science Daily

Nguyen, A. H. & Molinero, V. Identification of clathrate hydrates, hexagonal ice, cubic ice, and liquid water in simulations: the CHILL+ algorithm.

From Nature

The new clathrate, by contrast, is empty, though it didn’t start that way.

From Science Magazine

Most of the seeping vents were located around 500m down, which is just the right temperature and pressure to create a sludgy confection of ice and gas called methane hydrate, or clathrate.

From BBC

But the clathrate release problem is in a rather different category from the runaway greenhouse issue.

From New York Times