pleochroism

[plee-ok-roh-iz-uh m]

noun

the property of certain crystals of exhibiting different colors when viewed from different directions under transmitted light.Compare dichroism(def 1), trichroism.

Origin of pleochroism

First recorded in 1855–60; pleochro(ic) + -ism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pleochroism

Historical Examples of pleochroism

Both are light colored, and the pleochroism of the hypersthene is sometimes quite faint.
Mount Rainier
Various
The pleochroism is strong, the pleochroic colours being usually green, yellow and brown.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6
Various

British Dictionary definitions for pleochroism

pleochroism

noun

a property of certain crystals of absorbing light to an extent that depends on the orientation of the electric vector of the light with respect to the optic axes of the crystal. The effect occurs in uniaxial crystals (dichroism) and esp in biaxial crystals (trichroism)

Derived Formspleochroic (ˌpliːəˈkrəʊɪk), adjective

Word Origin for pleochroism

C19: pleo- + -chroism, from Greek khrōs skin colour

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012