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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

See more words from the same year