plaatvormige

Plaatvormige is a Dutch adjective that describes something having the shape of a plate—flat, broad, and relatively thin. It is formed from plaat (plate) and vorm (shape) with the adverbial suffix -ige, and it is used to describe objects, structures, or forms that are flattened and plate-like.

In geology and mineralogy, plaatvormige or plate-like habits refer to minerals or crystals that form flat, tabular plates. Such shapes can arise from the way crystals grow or from cleavage, resulting in broad, thin sheets that resemble plates.

In biology and anatomy, the term may be used descriptively to denote flattened, plate-like structures or cells. While it is a valid descriptive term, more precise terminology is often preferred in scientific contexts—for example, referring to tabular, sheet-like, or plate-like tissues or membranes.

In materials science and engineering, plaatvormige describes particles, sheets, or layers that have a plate-like morphology. This descriptor is commonly applied to two-dimensional materials, thin-film coatings, or layered composites where flat, continuous surfaces dominate the geometry of the object.

The term serves as a general, non-technical descriptor rather than a formal taxonomic category. In Dutch-language literature, it appears as an attributive adjective (plaatvormige structuur, plaatvormig letsel, etc.) and is often translated into English as plate-shaped or plate-like, depending on context.