smectic

Meanings

Adjective

• Cleansing.
• Astringent; detergent.
• Describing a class of liquid crystals whose molecules are aligned in layers, with the molecules lying perpendicular to the plane of the layers.

Noun

• A liquid crystal having the molecules aligned in this way.

Origin

• From Latin smecticus, from Ancient Greek σμηκτικός, from σμήχειν + -ικός