Pris*mat"ic (?), Pris*mat"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. prismatique.]
1.
Resembling, or pertaining to, a prism; as, a prismatic form or cleavage.
2.
Separated or distributed by a prism; formed by a prism; as, prismatic colors.
3. Crystallog.
Same as Orthorhombic.
Prismatic borax Chem., borax crystallized in the form of oblique prisms, with ten molecules of water; -- distinguished from octahedral borax. -- Prismatic colors Opt., the seven colors into which light is resolved when passed through a prism; primary colors. See Primary colors, under Color. -- Prismatic compass Surv., a compass having a prism for viewing a distant object and the compass card at the same time. -- Prismatic spectrum Opt., the spectrum produced by the passage of light through a prism.
© Webster 1913.