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Glite Dictionary
pleochroic

pleochroic

9.9
Showing different colors when light shines through it from different directions
  • adjective
  • /ˌpliːoʊˈkroʊɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pleocroico
  • The mineral is pleochroic, shifting from blue to green depending on the viewing angle.

Examples

  • Under polarized light, the crystal appears strongly pleochroic.

  • Look at this pleochroic gem!

  • Gemologists often rely on pleochroic scales to identify specific minerals.

  • This mineral is pleochroic.

  • The mineral is pleochroic, exhibiting vibrant hues of red and yellow as you change the angle of light.

  • When viewed under polarized light, the gem reveals its pleochroic nature, showcasing colors that shift between purple and blue.

  • Many gemstones display pleochroic qualities, changing their appearance dramatically based on the direction of light.

Synonyms

dichroic
vspleochroic
  • Specialized
9.9

A material that shows two different colors depending on the light

shows colors that change with viewing direction under polarized light

Surface Forms

pleochroic positive

Morphology

pleochroic = pleochroism (opaque) = pleochro + ic

Derived from the technical noun 'pleochroism', which is uncommon outside mineralogy, so the adjective is not easily inferred by average learners.

Etymology

The word pleochroic comes from Greek parts pleo- meaning 'more' and chroma meaning 'color', the same root you see in chrome and chromatic. So a pleochroic crystal shows 'more' than one 'color' and can look different colors from different directions under polarized light.