liquid crystal

noun

: an organic liquid whose physical properties resemble those of a crystal in the formation of loosely ordered molecular arrays similar to a regular crystalline lattice and the anisotropic refraction of light

Examples of liquid crystal in a Sentence

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These take a fraction of a second, thanks to a flexible, liquid crystal film controlled electronically by tapping or sliding a finger across the temples. Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025 LCDs, on the other hand, are problematic for nighttime driving because the backlight leaches through the liquid crystals, creating a halo effect and reducing contrast. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2010 The liquid crystals change their orientations in response to an electric field; as their orientations change, so does the polarization of light that travels through the liquid-crystal layer and reflects off the coating. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2010 Rather, the technology that’s translating the broadcast signal to an image is the same old liquid crystal display (LCD) technology that has been around for more than a decade, and in the past couple of years vanquished the competing technology, plasma TVs. IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2015 See All Example Sentences for liquid crystal

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of liquid crystal was in 1891

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Cite this Entry

“Liquid crystal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquid%20crystal. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

liquid crystal

noun
: an organic liquid whose physical properties resemble those of a crystal in the formation of loosely ordered molecular arrays similar to a regular crystalline lattice and the anisotropic refraction of light

More from Merriam-Webster on liquid crystal

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