An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Property of some crystals in which radiation polarized in one plane relative to the crystalline axes is freely transmitted, but radiation polarized perpendicular to this is absorbed. Tourmaline is a natural mineral with this property; Polaroid is a synthetic dichroic substance.

Etymology (EN): From Gk. dichro(os), from di- “two,” → di-, + chroma “color” + -ism.

Etymology (PE): Dofâmi, from do “two,” → bi- + fâm “color,”

• -i noun suffix.