voxel

noun

vox·​el ˈväk-səl 

-ˌsel

: any of the discrete elements comprising a three-dimensional entity (such as an image produced by magnetic resonance imaging)

MRI produces the best resolution of any existing scanning technology, imaging down to a 2-millimetre "voxel" (the 3D equivalent of a pixel).

—Clint Witchalls

To process the MRI data, a computer overlaid on Pickens' brain a virtual three-dimensional grid of 50,000 cubes called voxels (a word hinting at volume and pixels).

—Christopher Helman

Examples of voxel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The improvements allow an fMRI to image voxels—the 3D equivalent of pixels—that are less than half a millimeter on each side. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Dec. 2023

Reconstructing the slices produced more than 700 million 3-D cells, called voxels, that were evaluated and programmatically filtered, based on density, to isolate the bones and lungs. —Hang Do Thi Duc, New York Times, 31 May 2023

To compensate, the new technique uses a single pulse to solidify each voxel. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2023

This enables precise fabrication of items with voxels—the 3D equivalent of pixels—only a few dozen nanometers in size. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

vo(lume) entry 1 + (pi)xel

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above