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

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 last of these minerals occurs in small irregular patches between the idiomorphic felspars which Dr J. J. H. Tean has found to be a soda orthoclase.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

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

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