prismatic compass

1 definition found

prismatic compass - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Prismatic \Pris*mat"ic\, Prismatical \Pris*mat"ic*al\, a. [Cf.
     F. prismatique.]
     1. Resembling, or pertaining to, a prism; as, a prismatic
        form or cleavage.
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     2. Separated or distributed by a prism; formed by a prism;
        as, prismatic colors.
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     3. (Crystallog.) Same as Orthorhombic.
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     Prismatic borax (Chem.), borax crystallized in the form of
        oblique prisms, with ten molecules of water; --
        distinguished from octahedral borax.
  
     Prismatic colors (Opt.), the seven colors into which light
        is resolved when passed through a prism; primary colors.
        See Primary colors, under Color.
  
     Prismatic compass (Surv.), a compass having a prism for
        viewing a distant object and the compass card at the same
        time.
  
     Prismatic spectrum (Opt.), the spectrum produced by the
        passage of light through a prism.
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