X-ray diffraction

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

• noun physics The scattering of X-rays by the regular lattice of atoms or molecules in a crystal.
• noun physics The diffraction pattern so obtained.
• noun analytical chemistry The technique of using such patterns to determine that geometry of a crystal, or the arrangements of atoms in a molecule; X-ray crystallography.

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

• noun the scattering of X rays by the atoms of a crystal; the diffraction pattern shows structure of the crystal