striation

[strahy-ey-shuhn]

noun

1. striated striated condition or appearance.

2. a stria; one of many parallel striae.

3. Geology.,  any of a number of scratches or parallel grooves on the surface of a rock, resulting from the action of moving ice, as of a glacier.

4. Cell Biology.,  any of the alternating light and dark crossbands that are visible in certain muscle fibers, especially of voluntary muscles, and are produced by the distribution of contractile proteins.

striation

/ straɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. an arrangement or pattern of striae

2. the condition of being striate

3. another word for stria

striation

1. One of multiple, usually parallel grooves or scratches on a rock surface, produced by abrasion associated with glacial movement, stream flow, a geologic fault, or meteoric impact.

2. See more at glacial striation shatter cone slickenside

Other Word Forms

• interstriation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of striation¹

First recorded in 1840–50; striate + -ion

Example Sentences

"Each rifle barrel is different in minute detail and leaves distinct striation marks on the soft lead of a bullet head as it passes down the barrel," Mr Woods said.

From BBC

There are different striations of that, but can you speak about the role of those male figures in Aaron's life as they relate to his own construction of masculinity?

From Salon

Later they hiked Mosaic Canyon, where mud flows and flung stones have raised and rearranged the canyon floor, scraping and polishing walls that were always famed for their striations and markings.

From Los Angeles Times

The Havasupai people, for example, say the condor flew their ancestors from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the top — its wings creating the famous striations.

From Seattle Times

The sun sank behind the ridge, and we inched the tripod around until all the striations on the rock lined up with Adams’s picture.

From New York Times

Related Words

• fiber