cagelike

Cagelike is an adjective describing something that resembles or is shaped like a cage, typically indicating an enclosure with a network of walls, bars, or segments that forms a hollow interior. The term emphasizes both the enclosing nature of the form and the presence of openings or pores that permit restricted access or exchange with the outside.

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun cage and the suffix -like, indicating similarity.

In science and engineering, cagelike describes structures that enclose a space while maintaining defined interior boundaries. In chemistry and materials science, cagelike molecules and frameworks create hollow cavities or pores. Cage compounds, such as adamantane, have a rigid, polyhedral skeleton that encloses a central region. Porous materials like zeolites and many metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) contain cage-like pores capable of trapping or hosting guest molecules. In nanotechnology, engineered protein cages and virus-like capsids form cagelike shells that encapsulate cargo.

In biology, cagelike structures are common in protein assemblies that enclose functional components, such as protein cages that package enzymes, or viral capsids that protect genetic material. In architecture and design, cagelike forms describe enclosures built from latticed or grid-like elements that allow light, air, or visibility while maintaining containment.

See also: cage, cage-like structure, cage compound, protein cage, virus capsid.