plane group

plane group

[′plān ‚grüp] (crystallography) The group of operations (rotations, reflections, translations, and combinations of these) which leave a regular, periodic structure in a plane unchanged. (mathematics) One of 17 two-dimensional patterns which can be produced by one asymmetric motif that is repeated by symmetry operations to produce a pattern unit which then is repeated by translation to build up an ordered pattern that fills any two-dimensional area. Also known as plane symmetry group.