Textural

Textural is an adjective that relates to texture—the physical feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance. It is used to describe how something seems to a sense of touch or sight, as well as the internal arrangement of components that give a surface its character.

Etymology and scope. The word derives from texture, which comes from the Latin textūra, through French and English usage. Textural is commonly found across disciplines to distinguish qualitative surface or fabric attributes from other properties.

Applications in science and engineering. In geology and materials science, textural describes the arrangement and relationships of grains, minerals, and fabrics within a material, including grain size, shape, orientation, and layering. In soils, textural class categorizes soil by the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay, often depicted with a textural triangle. Textural analysis can influence mechanical behavior, permeability, and durability.

Applications in food science and psychology. In food science, texture refers to mouthfeel and structural properties such as firmness, cohesiveness, and chewiness; textural properties are assessed in sensory analysis and linked to processing methods, formulation, and consumer preference. The term is also used in perceptual psychology to discuss tactile experiences of objects.

Applications in art, music, and media. In art and painting, textural describes surface qualities like roughness or smoothness. In music, textural refers to the density and distribution of musical lines and textures, including textural or polyphonic writing. In digital media and 3D graphics, textural describes surface detail applied to models to convey realism.

See also: texture, texturing.