nematic

/nɪˈmætɪk/
adjective
  1. Relating to or having the threadlike structure of a nematode or similar organism.
    • Farmers learned about nematic pests that attack the roots of crops.
    • The nematic larvae wriggled through the soil in search of a host.
    • The nematic shape of the parasite made it easy to identify under the microscope.
  2. Describing a state of liquid crystals where molecules are aligned in parallel but not in layers.
    • Scientists studied the nematic properties of the material for new screen technology.
    • The display uses a nematic liquid crystal to create sharp images.
    • In a nematic phase, the molecules flow like a liquid but stay oriented.
What does "nematic" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean