acicular
/əˈsɪkjʊlə
/adjective technical
(Chiefly of crystals) needle-shaped.The acicular crystals are sometimes intergrown or twinned, causing a distortion that results in seemingly single crystals with relatively fat bases tapering to pointed terminations....
- All of the acicular crystals are late Neoproterozoic
- The largest amphibole crystals are embedded in the rock matrix, whereas the smaller acicular crystals line the hollows.
Origin
Early 18th century: from late Latin acicula 'small needle' (diminutive of acus) + -ar1.