slitlike

Slitlike is an adjective describing a shape or opening that is narrow and elongated, like a slit. The term derives from the noun slit combined with the suffix -like, and is commonly written as slitlike or slit-like. It is used in many disciplines to convey a morphology that is long and thin rather than round or broad.

In anatomy and biology, slitlike describes openings, fissures, or channels whose width is small relative to their length. Examples include slitlike fissures in some bones or soft tissues, or slender, elongated pores or sinuses in certain organisms. In botany, structures such as slitlike stomatal grooves or leaf sutures may be described this way. In geology and paleontology, crevices, fractures, or bedding-plane features that run in long, narrow lines are often described as slitlike.

In astronomy and the imaging sciences, slitlike can describe elongated features observed in images or spectra, such as narrow, extended structures that resemble a band when viewed edge-on or in projection.

Usage notes: Slitlike is a qualitative descriptor and does not indicate a precise measurement. The corresponding noun form is slit, and the adverbial form would be slitlike or slit-like in adjectival use.