Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

DOLERITE

 - 2 dictionary results

dol⋅er⋅ite

  [dol-uh-rahyt]
Use DOLERITE in a Sentence
–noun Petrology.
1. a coarse-grained variety of basalt.
2. any of various other igneous rocks, as diabase.
3. any basaltlike igneous rock whose composition can be determined only by microscopic examination.
Origin:
1830–40; < F dolérite < Gk doler(ós) deceitful (deriv. of dólos wile) + F -ite -ite 1

Related forms:
dol⋅er⋅it⋅ic  [dol-uh-rit-ik] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To DOLERITE
dol·er·ite   (dŏl'ə-rīt')   
n.   Chiefly British
A dark, fine-grained igneous rock; diabase.

[French dolérite, from Greek doleros, deceitful (from its easily being mistaken for diorite), from dolos, trick; see del-2 in Indo-European roots.]
dol'er·it'ic (ə-rĭt'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see DOLERITE on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way