Applanate

Applanate is an adjective describing something that is flattened or flattened to a plane, often appearing disk-like or plate-like. The term derives from the Latin applanatus, meaning to flatten.

In mineralogy and crystallography, applanate describes crystals or crystal faces that are flattened with plane-parallel facets. An applanate habit yields a plate- or disk-shaped appearance, where one dimension is noticeably thinner and the other dimensions extend in the plane of the flat faces.

In botany and plant-related fields, applanate is used to describe plant parts that lie in a single, flattened plane. It is also used in palynology to characterize pollen grains or spores that are flattened on one or more faces, giving a disc-like or compressed appearance under microscopy. The term emphasizes the plane of flattening rather than curvature or three-dimensional bulk.

In microscopy and related sample-preparation contexts, applanate can refer to the flattening of a specimen to produce a thin, even layer for observation. This use highlights the practical aspect of obtaining a uniform section or smear for analysis.

Etymology and usage notes: Applanate is a descriptor in scientific description rather than a category with a strict measurement. Its exact meaning can vary by discipline, but the common thread is flattening along a plane to yield a plane-parallel or disk-like form. The related terms applanation and planate describe similar ideas of flattening and plane-bearing geometry.