kerflike

Kerflike is a term used in design, fabrication, and materials science to describe features that resemble a kerf, the slender groove created when material is cut. Used as an adjective, kerflike characterizes edges, grooves, or patterns whose geometry mirrors a typical kerf—narrow width, parallel sides, and a shallow depth that depends on tool geometry and material.

It also refers to processes or outcomes that generate such features without producing a full through-cut, for example scoring, etching, laser cutting, or thin-kerf routing. Kerflike features may serve functional roles such as enabling bending or interlocking joints, or they may be employed for decorative or texture purposes.

In practice, kerflike features are common in plywood and laminated materials where slight grooves help distribute stress or accommodate movement. They are also used in prototyping and DIY fabrication to create flexible hinges, living hinges, or segmented patterns with controlled gaps.

Etymology and usage: kerflike combines kerf with the suffix -like. The term is used primarily in maker, fabrication, and design communities, with varying emphasis on whether the feature is a byproduct of cutting or a deliberately engineered pattern. Related terms include kerf, kerfing, and scored lines.