laminal

9.9

Something that has thin flat layers lying on top of each other

adjective
/ˈlæmɪnəl/

Specialized

: laminal

The rock has a laminal structure, making it easy to split along the layers.

Examples

Some types of tissue exhibit a distinctly laminal organization when viewed under a microscope.
The laminal structure of the leaf allows for efficient photosynthesis.
Geologists study the laminal patterns found in sedimentary formations.
This is a laminal structure.
Some types of tissue exhibit a distinctly laminal organization when viewed under a microscope.
Geologists study the laminal patterns found in sedimentary formations.
The laminal structure of the leaf allows for efficient photosynthesis.

Synonyms

layered

vslaminal

1 3.5

Having parts that lie on top of each other, like a cake

focuses specifically on thin layers rather than any stacked layers

laminar

vslaminal

Specialized

1 8.1

Made of thin layers or flowing smoothly in parallel layers

refers broadly to thin layers without the fluid flow implication

lamellar

vslaminal

Specialized

8.4

Having thin flat layers that look like plates

is any arrangement of thin layers rather than specifically plate like

multilamellar

vslaminal

Specialized

9.5

Having several thin layers stacked together

may mean thin layers in general without implying many sheets

How Layered

stratified

Formal

6.7

laminal

Specialized

9.9

layered

1 3.5

Surface Forms

laminal positive

Morphology

laminal = lamina (semi-transparent) = lamina + al

The adjective is formed regularly from 'lamina' + '-al', but the word is a technical term and may not be fully obvious to many learners.

Etymology

The word laminal comes from the Latin root lamina, which means 'thin plate' or 'layer', and it shares this root with the common word laminate. Think of a book or a stack of thin sheets: something laminal is made of thin layers, which is why we use it for layered rocks or tissues.