Disphenoid

Quick meaning: Disphenoid is an adjective meaning (mineralogy) Of or pertaining to a wedge-shaped crystal form of the tetragonal or orthorhombic system.

Meaning

(mineralogy) Of or pertaining to a wedge-shaped crystal form of the tetragonal or orthorhombic system.

More Meanings

1. (geometry) A non-regular tetrahedron whose four faces are congruent acute-angled triangles.
2. (mineralogy) Of or pertaining to a crystal form bounded by eight scalene triangles arranged in pairs, constituting a tetragonal scalenohedron.

Example Sentences

The mineral chalcopyrite commonly crystallizes in disphenoids that are very difficult to distinguish from tetrahedrons.

In addition it should be remarked that there are two types of disphenoids, with different symmetries: the tetragonal disphenoid (having isosceles facets) and the rhombic one.

If you rotate the [tetragonal] disphenoid 90° around its 2-fold axis and then perform the operation of inversion through the center-point of the object, it will occupy its original position again.

1973, H. S. M. Coxeter, 3rd Edition, unnumbered page, To make a model of a disphenoid, cut out an acute angled triangle and fold it along the joins of the mid-points of the sides. The disphenoid is said to be rhombic or tetragonal according as the triangle is isosceles or scalene.

Word Forms

• disphenoids

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include idiomorphous, spathiform, dioctahedral, euhedral, diaplectic, emarginate.

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