x-ray crystallography

noun

, Crystallography.

1. the determination of the structure of a crystal by the use of x-ray diffraction.

X-ray crystallography

noun

1. the study and practice of determining the structure of a crystal by passing a beam of X-rays through it and observing and analysing the diffraction pattern produced

x-ray crystallography

1. The study of molecular structure by examining diffraction patterns made by x-rays beamed through a crystalline form of the molecules. X-ray crystallography is used extensively in biochemistry to examine the molecular structure of such molecules as proteins and DNA.

Word History and Origins

Origin of x-ray crystallography¹

First recorded in 1925–30