striation

S1T1R1I1A1T1I1O1N1
[stɹaɪˈeɪ.ʃən]

noun

One of a number of parallel grooves and ridges in a rock or rocky deposit, formed by repeated twinning or cleaving of crystals.

RareScrabble 9

Meanings

nounstriation (countable and uncountable, plural striations)

plural striations

  1. countablechemistryOne of a number of parallel grooves and ridges in a rock or rocky deposit, formed by repeated twinning or cleaving of crystals.
  2. countablegeographyOne of a number of parallel scratch lines in rock outcrops, formed when glaciers dragged rocks across the landscape.

    The energy raised the temperature of the snow a couple of degrees, and the friction carved striations high in the icy sides of the canyon walls.

    2012 December 26, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2013
  3. countableuncountableThe action of marking with a stria.
  4. countableuncountableThe result of being marked with a stria.
  5. countableuncountablebusinessa parallel series of small grooves, channels, or impressions typically within a metal roof panel used to help reduce the potential for oil-canning.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounany of a number of tiny parallel grooves such as: the scratches left by a glacier on rocks or the streaks or ridges in muscle tissue

Similar

nouna stripe or stripes of contrasting color

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

Catalan estriació
  • estriacióaction of marking with a stria
French striation
  • striationaction of marking with a stria
German Streifen, Streifung
  • Streifenaction of marking with a stria
  • Streifungresult of being marked with a stria
Italian striatura
  • striaturaaction of marking with a stria
Portuguese estriamento
  • estriamentoaction of marking with a stria
Spanish estriación
  • estriaciónaction of marking with a stria
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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