liquid crystal

American  

noun

1. a liquid having certain crystalline characteristics, especially different optical properties in different directions when exposed to an electric field.

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liquid crystal British  

noun

1. a liquid that has some crystalline characteristics, such as the presence of different optical properties in different directions; a substance in a mesomorphic state See also smectic nematic

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liquid crystal Scientific  

1. Any of various liquids in which molecules are regularly arrayed like a solid crystal along one or two dimensions, but are free in the other dimensions as with typical liquids. Liquid crystals often display unusual and often manipulable optical properties such as anisotropic scattering.

2. See more at LCD

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Etymology

Origin of liquid crystal

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

liquid crystal

"This research leads the way to using liquid crystal properties as a modulator in photonic devices that have waveguides embedded in their whole volume."

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

When voltage is applied to the liquid crystal its molecules rotate, which changes the polarization of light transmitted through the waveguide.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

They also found that integrating the liquid crystal with the waveguides left the modulation properties of the liquid crystals unvaried.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

The scientists are working to obtain a patent for their discovery and plan to further test it with different types of liquid crystal molecules and solidified polymers made of these molecules.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

No waterfalls hurl their bolts of liquid crystal into dark, frowning, wave-worn chasms, which had echoed to the thunder of their fall since the birth of time.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various