uniaxial

[ yoo-nee-ak-see-uhl ]

adjective

1. having one axis.
2. Crystallography. (of a crystal) having one direction in which double refraction does not occur.
3. Botany. (of a plant) having a primary stem that does not branch and that terminates in a flower.

uniaxial

/ ˌjuːnɪˈæksɪəl /

adjective

1. (esp of plants) having an unbranched main axis
2. (of a crystal) having only one direction along which double refraction of light does not occur

Derived Forms

• ˌuniˈaxially, adverb

Other Words From

• uni·axi·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of uniaxial¹

First recorded in 1820–30; uni- + axial

Example Sentences

In uniaxial crystals the number of absorption spectra is reduced to two.

From Project Gutenberg

We call the former uniaxial (monaxonia), and the latter transverse-axial (stauraxonia).

From Project Gutenberg

A sphere cut from a uniaxial crystal at one temperature will be a spheroid at another temperature.

From Project Gutenberg

Optically uniaxial crystals—corresponding with the tetragonal and hexagonal systems.

From Project Gutenberg