close-packed
Crammed together snugly
Close-packed describes atoms, molecules, or other units arranged as tightly together as geometry allows, leaving minimal empty space.
The term appears most often in crystallography and materials science, where close-packed structures like hexagonal close-packed or face-centered cubic represent the most efficient ways spheres can fill space.
More loosely, close-packed can describe anything densely arranged: close-packed rows of spectators or close-packed paragraphs of text.
Unable to move freely
- congestedBlocked by overcrowding
- teemingAbundantly full of
- swarmingGathering in large numbers
- crammedOverfilled or overstuffed
cramped · sardined · overcrowded · chock-full · stuffed · bursting · heaving · mobbed
Closely packed together
- solidFirm matter state
- compressedReduced by pressure
- condensedMade more compact
- compactTightly packed together
cohesive · rigid · concentrated · uniform · interlocking · aligned · metals · alloys
Six-edged polygon's form
- cubicOf three dimensions
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- body-centeredFocused on physical form
- atomicOf elemental particles
arrangement · tetrahedral · periodic · symmetry · ions · atoms · molecules · interstitial
jammed
Unable to move freely
crammed · cramped · sardined · overcrowded · chock-full · stuffed · bursting · heaving · mobbed · pressed
dense
Closely packed together
- solidFirm matter state
- compressedReduced by pressure
- condensedMade more compact
compact · cohesive · rigid · concentrated · uniform · interlocking · aligned · metals · alloys · ceramics
hexagonal
Six-edged polygon's form
- cubicOf three dimensions
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- body-centeredFocused on physical form
atomic · arrangement · tetrahedral · periodic · symmetry · ions · atoms · molecules · interstitial · coordination
close-packedscattered
Spread irregularly about
dispersed · spread out · sparse · diffuse · loose
close-packeddisordered
Lacking systematic arrangement
uncompressed · expanded · open · random · disorganized
close, pack, packed, closely, closer, closest, closeness, enclose, enclosed