raphide

noun

raph·ide ˈra-ˌfīd

plural raphides ˈra-ˌfīdz

ˈra-fə-ˌdēz

: any of the needle-shaped crystals usually of calcium oxalate that develop as metabolic by-products in plant cells

Examples of raphide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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These contain crystals of calcium carbonate called raphides, which take the form of microscopic needles. —

Kenneth Setzer, miamiherald, 14 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

French & New Latin; French raphide, from New Latin raphides, plural, from Greek rhaphides, plural of rhaphid-, rhaphis needle, from rhaptein

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of raphide was circa 1842

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