indicatrix

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noun

An ellipsoid whose three axes represent the refractive indices of an anisotropic crystal for light following different directions with respect to the crystal axes

OriginLatin indicātrīx →
Scrabble 20
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Meanings

nounindicatrix (plural indicatrices)

plural indicatrices

  1. chemistryAn ellipsoid whose three axes represent the refractive indices of an anisotropic crystal for light following different directions with respect to the crystal axes

Origin

  1. Latinindicātrīx
  2. Englishindicatrix

Learned borrowing from Latin indicātrīx. By surface analysis, indicate + -trix.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

indicatrix. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indicatrix

MLA

“indicatrix.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indicatrix. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indicatrix,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indicatrix.

Source: indicatrix on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.