anisotropy
Axis-dependent variation
Anisotropy is the property of varying in different directions.
A material with anisotropy behaves differently depending on which way you measure it—wood splits more easily along the grain than across it.
The opposite is isotropy, where properties remain constant regardless of direction.
The term appears in physics, materials science, and medical imaging: The anisotropy of muscle tissue affects how ultrasound waves pass through it.
Cereal plant's harvest unit
- woodTree-derived building material
- laminateBond thin layers together
- compositeMade of distinct parts
- plywoodEngineered layered wood panels
veneer · fiber · texture · layering · Kevlar · fiberglass · stiffness · elasticity
Tendency to split cleanly
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- tourmalineBoron silicate gemstone family
mica · feldspar · symmetry · crystallography · dichroism · mineralogy · gemology · facet
Separation into opposing extremes
- dichroismPolarization-dependent color absorption
- refractionWave bending between media
- retardationSlowing or delay
- polarizerSelective light-wave filter
Multilinear algebraic object
- homogeneityState of sameness throughout
- uniformityState of being identical
- vectorQuantity with direction
- fieldArea of specialty
Separated opposite charges
- multipoleMultiple-source field configuration
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
- primordialExisting from the start
- inflationSustained price level increase
Strong atomic magnetic alignment
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- hysteresisHistory-dependent system response
- domainArea of control
spin · saturation · remanence · magnetization · diamagnetism · paramagnetism
grain
Cereal plant's harvest unit
plywood · veneer · fiber · texture · layering · Kevlar · fiberglass · stiffness · elasticity · fracture
cleavage
Tendency to split cleanly
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
tourmaline · mica · feldspar · symmetry · crystallography · dichroism · mineralogy · gemology · facet · morphology
polarization
Separation into opposing extremes
- dichroismPolarization-dependent color absorption
- refractionWave bending between media
- retardationSlowing or delay
tensor
Multilinear algebraic object
- homogeneityState of sameness throughout
- uniformityState of being identical
- vectorQuantity with direction
field · conductivity · dielectric · permittivity · diffusion
dipole
Separated opposite charges
- multipoleMultiple-source field configuration
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
- primordialExisting from the start
ferromagnetism
Strong atomic magnetic alignment
- susceptibilityLiability to influence
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- hysteresisHistory-dependent system response
domain · spin · saturation · remanence · magnetization · diamagnetism · paramagnetism
anisotropyisotropic
Same properties all directions
symmetry · homogeneity · uniformity · rotational symmetry · invariance
- magnetic anisotropyOrientation-dependent magnetization behavior