orthoclastic

[awr-thuh-klas-tik]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

Crystallography.

(of a crystal) having cleavages at right angles to each other.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of orthoclastic¹

1875–80; < German orthoklastisch, equivalent to ortho- ortho- + -klastisch clastic

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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.

There are consequently two series of felspars, one termed orthoclastic or orthotomous, and the other plagioclastic or clinotomous.

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Both plagioclastic and orthoclastic aventurine occur at several localities in the United States.

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If arranged with reference to their cleavage they are ORTHOCLASTIC, the fracture taking place always at a right angle; or PLAGIOCLASTIC, in which the cleavages are oblique to one another.

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Orthoclase is orthoclastic and monoclinic; all the other feldspars are plagioclastic and triclinic.

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orthoclase ortho-cousin

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