noun
- one of the small, polished plane surfaces of a cut gem.
- a similar surface cut on a fragment of rock by the action of water, windblown sand, etc.
- aspect; phase: They carefully examined every facet of the argument.
- Architecture. any of the faces of a column cut in a polygonal form.
- Zoology. one of the corneal lenses of a compound arthropod eye.
- Anatomy. a small, smooth, flat area on a hard surface, especially on a bone.
- Dentistry. a small, highly burnished area, usually on the enamel surface of a tooth, produced by abrasion between opposing teeth in chewing.
verb (used with object), fac·et·ed, fac·et·ing or (especially British) fac·et·ted, fac·et·ting.
- to cut facets on.
noun
- any of the surfaces of a cut gemstone
- an aspect or phase, as of a subject or personality
- architect the raised surface between the flutes of a column
- any of the lenses that make up the compound eye of an insect or other arthropod
- anatomy any small smooth area on a hard surface, as on a bone
verb -ets, -eting, -eted, -ets, -etting or -etted
- (tr) to cut facets in (a gemstone)
1620s, from French facette (12c., Old French facete), diminutive of face (see face (n.)). The diamond-cutting sense is the original one. Related: Faceted; facets.
n.
- A small smooth area on a bone or other firm structure.
- A worn spot on a tooth, produced by chewing or grinding.