monoclinic

views updated May 08 2018

monoclinic Applied to a crystal system where the Bravais lattices have three sets of edges of unequal length, two sets of which are not at right angles to one another. They can therefore be referred to three unequal crystallographic axes a, b, and c (or x, y, and z). The a (or x) axis (clino) is inclined and forms an obtuse angle with the vertical c (or z) axis usually denoted by the symbol β. The b (or y) axis (ortho) is horizontal and at right angles to both the a (x) and c (z) axes.

monoclinic

views updated May 23 2018

mon·o·clin·ic / ˌmänəˈklinik/ • adj. of or denoting a crystal system or three-dimensional geometric arrangement having three unequal axes of which one is at right angles to the other two.