schlieren

plural noun

schlie·​ren ˈshlir-ən How to pronounce schlieren (audio)
1
: small masses or streaks in an igneous rock that differ in composition from the main body
2
: regions of varying refraction in a transparent medium often caused by pressure or temperature differences and detectable especially by photographing the passage of a beam of light
schlieric adjective

Examples of schlieren in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All images were taken at 8000 frames per second, using schlieren photography. Discover Magazine, 15 May 2013

Word History

Etymology

German

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of schlieren was in 1898

Dictionary Entries Near schlieren

Cite this Entry

“Schlieren.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schlieren. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on schlieren

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!