sectile
1
9.9
Can be cut smoothly with a knife, like gold or copper
- adjective
- /ˈsɛktaɪl/
- Specialized
:
sectil
- Gold is a sectile metal because it can be sliced easily with a knife.
Examples
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Unlike quartz, which is brittle, copper is sectile and can be cut without shattering.
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This mineral is sectile and can be easily shaped.
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The mineral was identified as sectile after it was smoothly cut during testing.
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The sectile nature of the stone makes it ideal for carving.
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Gold is a sectile metal because it can be cut smoothly with a knife.
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Unlike quartz, which is brittle, copper is sectile and can be sliced cleanly without breaking.
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The sectile properties of the mineral allow it to be shaped easily into sculptures.
Synonyms
How Soft
Surface Forms
sectile positive
Etymology
Sectile comes from the Latin root secare meaning 'to cut'. A helpful memory is that the same root is in section and dissect, so sectile simply describes something that can be cut smoothly, like gold or other soft metals.