idiomorphismn.
/ˌɪdɪə(ʊ)ˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌɪdiəˈmɔrfiz(ə)m/ Mineralogy.
The condition of being idiomorphic.
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the world > the earth > minerals > mineral structure or appearance > [noun] > crystal structure
isomorphism1828
polymorphism1848
idiomorphism1892
isotypy1942
the world > matter > chemistry > crystallography (general) > crystal (general) > structures and forms > [noun] > idiomorphism
idiomorphism1892
1892 Amer. Naturalist 26 164 The peculiarity of the structure of the ground mass is the idiomorphism of the quartz, which is often intergrown with the feldspar.
1908 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. 64 482 Professor F. Becke..points out that, in the formation of the crystalline schists, the relative idiomorphism is not to be considered as denoting the order in which they have formed.
1951 F. J. Turner & J. Verhoogen Igneous & Metamorphic Petrol. iii. 56 Idiomorphism seems..a doubtful criterion of early crystallization in the case of certain consistently idiomorphic accessories, such as apatite.
1972 R. Galopin & N. F. M. Henry Microsc. Study Opaque Minerals v. 107/2 Certain minerals have a marked tendency to idiomorphism in isolated grains or in separate groups.
2006 Jrnl. Nucl. Materials 349 4/1 The pearlite colonies may present a rather irregular..structure, though the tendency for crystalline idiomorphism is evident.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1892