pseudostratificationn.
/ˌs(j)uːdəʊˌstratᵻfᵻˈkeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌsudoʊˌstrædəfəˈkeɪʃən/ 1. Geology. A structure in which an appearance of stratification has been produced by a process other than sedimentary deposition, e.g. in an igneous rock as a result of parallel fractures; = pseudo-bedding n. at pseudo- comb. form 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > sedimentary formation > [noun] > stratum > pseudo
pseudo-bedding1850
pseudostratification1851
1851 S. F. Baird tr. J. G. Heck Iconogr. Encycl. I. Geogn. 201 Sometimes abnormal masses, in penetrating normal, take up a position between the strata of the latter, and thus acquire a pseudostratification.
1874 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. 30 253 The great masses of gabbro in Rum often exhibit that pseudo-stratification so often observed in igneous rocks.
1954 J. F. Kirkaldy Gen. Princ. Geol. ii. 32 The pressures and temperatures may be sufficiently high for the rock material to flow rather than fracture, so we find that metamorphic rocks of those type often show a pseudo-stratification or schistosity, being..traversed by innumerable slightly curving planes along which a certain amount of lateral movement has occurred.
2003 Abstr. with Programs (Geol. Soc. Amer.) 35 iv. 4 Such rock unit is intruded by Quaternary diabasic dikes..and is cut by 3 main structural systems (faults and joints) and pseudo-stratification.
2. Histology. The apparent formation of layers in a single layer of epithelial cells caused by irregular distribution of the nuclei relative to one another. Cf. pseudostratified adj. 2.
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1930 Biol. Bull. 58 327 The cells walls are no longer clearly visible, and the nuclei..are now more closely aggregated in an irregular distribution giving the appearance of pseudostratification.
1946 S. A. Asdell Patterns Mammal. Reproduction ii. 398 On the first day of heat the cells are columnar with some pseudostratification, a condition which increases throughout heat.
2006 Developm. Biol. 290 424/2 In adult mice, certain epithelial characteristics as cell height and pseudo-stratification show strong variation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1851