Dendrite - juushijosho (English spelling) dendrite

Japanese: 樹枝状晶 - じゅしじょうしょう（英語表記）dendrite

A type of crystal shape that occurs when a molten liquid such as a metal or alloy solidifies; it develops into a branch-like shape. It is also called a dendrite. The molten liquid begins to solidify when its temperature becomes somewhat lower than its melting point (the difference between the two temperatures is called the degree of supercooling), but dendrites form when the degree of supercooling is large over a wide range. In such cases, the latent heat of solidification can be continuously absorbed by the molten liquid, allowing the solid phase to grow three-dimensionally. The growth rate of the solid phase differs depending on the crystal direction, so protrusions form in areas where there is a solid phase.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

金属や合金などの溶融液が凝固する場合に生ずる結晶の形状の一つで，樹枝状に発達したもの。デンドライトともいう。溶融液の凝固が起こりはじめるのは，液の温度が融点よりもある程度低く(両温度の差を過冷度という)なったときであるが，樹枝状晶は，過冷度が広い範囲にわたって大きい場合に生じる。このような場合には，凝固潜熱が溶融液中に継続して吸収されうるため，固相は三次元的に成長できる。固相の成長速度は結晶方向によって異なるので，固相のある個所に突起部が生じる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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