clastic

[klas-tik] /ˈklæs tɪk/
adjective
1.
Biology. breaking up into fragments or separate portions; dividing into parts.
2.
pertaining to an anatomical model made up of detachable pieces.
3.
Geology. noting or pertaining to rock or rocks composed of fragments or particles of older rocks or previously existing solid matter; fragmental.
Origin
1870-75; < Greek klastós broken in pieces (klas- variant stem of klân to break + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + -ic
Related forms
nonclastic, adjective
Examples from the web for clastic
  • The types of sediment found in a clastic sedimentary rock can tell geologists much about past environments.
  • Fine-grained clastic host rocks generally have low permeability.
  • Shale is a clastic sedimentary rock composed of silt and clay grains.
  • As a consequence, the coarse clastic units grow progressively thinner and finer grained.
  • The clastic material is attributable to a southerly source.
British Dictionary definitions for clastic

clastic

/ˈklæstɪk/
adjective
1.
(of sedimentary rock, etc) composed of fragments of pre-existing rock that have been transported some distance from their points of origin
2.
(biology) dividing into parts: a clastic cell
3.
able to be dismantled for study or observation: a clastic model of the brain
Word Origin
C19: from Greek klastos shattered, from klan to break
Word Origin and History for clastic
adj.

"consisting of broken pieces," 1875, in geology, from Latinized form of Greek klastos "broken in pieces," from klan, klaein "to break," from PIE *kla-, variant of root *kel- "to strike."

clastic in Medicine

clastic clas·tic (klās'tĭk)
adj.

  1. Breaking up into pieces or exhibiting a tendency to break or divide.

  2. Separable into parts or having removable sections, as an anatomical model.

clastic in Science
clast
  (klāst)   
A rock fragment or grain resulting from the breakdown of larger rocks.

clastic adjective (klās'tĭk)