prismatic
/prɪzˈmatɪk
/adjective
1Relating to or having the form of a prism or prisms: a prismatic structure...
- Texture can be an important control here; clay content is important in the creation of blocky, prismatic, and columnar structures.
- The typical three-dimensional structure generally has a prismatic or subprismatic shape that expands in size toward the top.
- This finely prismatic structure occurs only locally within the marginal denticles, but is better developed locally immediately below the dorsal midline of the shell.
1.1(Of an instrument) incorporating a prism or prisms: a prismatic compass...
- SFITs create functionality by incorporating specialty fibers in the textile - optical fiber, for example - as well as substrates, sensors, displays, and prismatic materials, among others.
- Concentrating on defending herself, S'aturinni bought the Major enough time to mumble slightly different syllables, his gemmed gauntlets flashing red this time as a volley of prismatic darts materialised.
1.2(Of colours) formed, separated, or distributed by or as if by an optical prism: a flash of prismatic light on the edge of the glass...
- The optical and prismatic movement of light remained a starting point for these works, but the end result shows a geometric clarity and a fine honing of colour relations.
- Winifred's later works explore prismatic colour effects; she also painted landscapes and flower pictures (Glimpse upon Waking, 1976; London, Tate) where luminous colour creates space and form.
- In Bulatov's painting, lozenges of prismatic hues float out of the deep space of a black ground.
Derivatives
prismatically
- In texture and size they look, at first glance, like very close-grained, asymmetric versions of one of Bridget Riley's prismatically divided, coloured abstracts.
- One of the seven wonders of the natural world, sitting there in front of me as the sun rose up behind my back and illuminated the roaring sparkling clean water of the Niagara River, prismatically blowing apart the visible spectrum.
- Because Minton's general expressions can be used for any shape, it is also straightforward to consider the proteins as cylindrical instead of prismatically shaped.
Origin
Early 18th century: from French prismatique, from Greek prisma 'thing sawn' (see prism).