Kihilised

Kihilised is an Estonian adjective that translates roughly as "layered" or "stratified" in English. It derives from kiht, meaning "layer" or "stratum," with the adjectival suffix -iline, and it is used to describe objects, structures, or materials that show a stacked, sheet-like organization rather than uniformity throughout.

In geology, kihilised describes rocks and sedimentary deposits with clear bedding or laminations. Such features include layered sandstones, shales with visible laminae, or volcanic rocks that display repeated alternations of material. The term emphasizes regular, planar units rather than a chaotic texture.

In materials science and engineering, kihilised applies to laminated or layered materials, such as plywood or laminated composites, where individual sheets are bonded to form a single structural unit. It can also describe synthetic films or coatings that consist of successive layers.

In biological contexts, the word is used in Estonian-language texts to describe structures with layered organization, for example tissues that show lamination or shell-like layering in certain organisms, though this usage is less formal than in geology or materials science.

Notes: Kihilised is primarily a descriptive term in Estonian; its precise meaning depends on the discipline. English-language equivalents include laminated, stratified, or layered. Related terms include kihiline (layered) and kiht (layer), as well as laminations in geology and materials science.