Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Biology Having a latticelike structure or appearance.
  • adjective Chemistry Of or relating to inclusion complexes in which molecules of one substance are completely enclosed within the crystal structure of another.
  • noun A clathrate compound, such as methane hydrate.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In botany and zoology, latticed; divided like latticework; specifically, in entomology, clathrose. Also clathroid.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective (Bot.) Shaped like a lattice; cancellate.
  • adjective (Zoöl.) Having the surface marked with raised lines resembling a lattice, as many shells.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective biology having a lattice-like structure
  • adjective chemistry of an inclusion complex in which molecules of one compound are enclosed within the crystal structure of another
  • noun chemistry a clathrate compound

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective designating or relating to a compound in which one component is physically enclosed within the crystal structure of another
  • adjective having a latticelike structure pierced with holes or windows

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin clāthrātus, past participle of clāthrāre, to furnish with a lattice, from clāthrī, clātra, lattice, from Greek klēithra, pl. of klēithron, door bar, from kleiein, to close.]

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  • citation, .....they were aware of clathrates, naturally occurring cagelike clusters of atoms that trap other atoms within them.5-Aug-08,NYTimes Science,p. D4,A Problem of Bubbles Frames an Olympic Design.

    August 7, 2008

  • "Claim has been received; will have prompt attention", in railroad telegraphers' abbreviated shorthand. --US Railway Association, Standard Cipher Code, 1906.

    January 21, 2013