What is "crystal lattice"

Lattice \Lat"tice\, n. [OE. latis, F. lattis lathwork, fr. latte lath. See Latten, 1st Lath.]

1. Any work of wood, metal, plastic, or other solid material, made by crossing a series of parallel laths, or thin strips, with another series at a diagonal angle, and forming a network with openings between the strips; as, the lattice of a window; -- called also latticework.

   The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice.
   --Judg. v. 28.

2. (Her.) The representation of a piece of latticework used as a bearing, the bands being vertical and horizontal.

3. (Crystallography) The arrangement of atoms or molecules in a crystal, represented as a repeating arrangement of points in space, each point representing the location of an atom or molecule; called also crystal lattice and space lattice.

   Lattice bridge, a bridge supported by lattice girders, or latticework trusses.

   Lattice girder (Arch.), a girder of which the wed consists of diagonal pieces crossing each other in the manner of latticework.

   Lattice plant (Bot.), an aquatic plant of Madagascar ( Ouvirandra fenestralis), whose leaves have interstices between their ribs and cross veins, so as to resemble latticework. A second species is Ouvirandra Berneriana. The genus is merged in Aponogeton by recent authors.

n. (senseid en geometric arrangement)(context crystallography English) A regular three-dimensional geometric arrangement of atoms, molecules or ions in a crystal

n. a 3-dimensional geometric arrangement of the atoms or molecules or ions composing a crystal [syn: space lattice, Bravais lattice]