liquid crystal

American  

noun

1. a liquid having certain crystalline characteristics, especially different optical properties in different directions when exposed to an electric field.

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liquid crystal British  

noun

1. a liquid that has some crystalline characteristics, such as the presence of different optical properties in different directions; a substance in a mesomorphic state See also smectic nematic

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liquid crystal Scientific  

1. Any of various liquids in which molecules are regularly arrayed like a solid crystal along one or two dimensions, but are free in the other dimensions as with typical liquids. Liquid crystals often display unusual and often manipulable optical properties such as anisotropic scattering.

2. See more at LCD

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Etymology

Origin of liquid crystal

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

liquid crystal

Surprisingly, in a recent study, a research team led by Professor Hiromitsu Maeda from Ritsumeikan University, Japan, reported a novel antiaromatic π-stacking system that enabled the formation of a highly conductive liquid crystal.

From Science Daily ● May 23, 2024

The key to this phenomenon lies in the creation of phase defects within the liquid crystal structure next to the air bubbles.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2024

To test the devices, the researchers injected laser light in the waveguide and then varied the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, which modulated the light.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

"This research leads the way to using liquid crystal properties as a modulator in photonic devices that have waveguides embedded in their whole volume."

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2024

Gazing at the skeleton through the veil of the clear water, we saw the skull covered, as it were, with long masses of brown hair, which were floating in the liquid crystal.

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Lanciani, Rodolfo Amedeo