schliere

Variant of schlieren

schlieren definition

schlie·ren (s̸hlir′ən)

plural noun sing. schliere -·re (-ə)

  1. small streaks or masses in igneous rocks, differing in composition from the main rock but blending gradually into it
  2. Optics regions in a translucent medium, as a fluid, that have a different density and consequently a different index of refraction than the medium and that can be photographed as shadows produced by the refraction of light passed through these regions

Etymology: Ger, lit., streaks; akin to slur

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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