tetragonal

[ te-trag-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or having the form of a tetragon.
2. Crystallography. noting or pertaining to a system of crystallization in which all three axes are at right angles to one another, two being equal in length and the third being of a different length.

tetragonal

/ tɛˈtræɡənəl /

adjective

1. Alsodimetric crystallog relating or belonging to the crystal system characterized by three mutually perpendicular axes of which only two are equal
2. of, relating to, or shaped like a quadrilateral

tetragonal

/ tĕ-trăg′ə-nəl /

1. Relating to a crystal having three axes, two of which are of the same length and are at right angles to each other. The third axis is perpendicular to these. The mineral zircon has tetragonal crystals.
2. See illustration at crystal

Derived Forms

• teˈtragonalness, noun
• teˈtragonally, adverb

Other Words From

• te·trago·nal·ly adverb
• te·trago·nal·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetragonal¹

First recorded in 1565–75; tetragon + -al ¹

Example Sentences

In the tetragonal system there are three axes at right angles to each other.

From Project Gutenberg

Though closely resembling the tetragonal torbernite in form, it crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and is optically biaxial.

From Project Gutenberg

Direct nitration gives (principally) m-nitrobenzoic acid, also pseudo-tetragonal with a much shorter principal axis.

From Project Gutenberg

Benzoic acid is pseudo-tetragonal, the principal axis being remarkably long; there is no cleavage at right angles to this axis.

From Project Gutenberg

The density and specific heat of the tetragonal form are greater than those of the yellow.

From Project Gutenberg