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fulgurite

 - 4 dictionary results

ful⋅gu⋅rite

  [fuhl-gyuh-rahyt]
Use fulgurite in a Sentence
–noun
a tubelike formation in sand or rock, caused by lightning.
Origin:
1825–35; < L fulgur (see fulgurate ) + -ite 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ful·gu·rite   (fŏŏl'gyə-rīt', -gə-, fŭl'-)   
n.  A slender, usually tubular body of glassy rock produced by lightning striking and then fusing dry sandy soil.

[Latin fulgur, lightning; see fulgurate + -ite1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
fulgurite   (fl'gyə-rīt', -gə-)  Pronunciation Key 
A slender, usually tubular body of glassy rock produced by lightning striking and then fusing dry sandy soil.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

fulgurite

a glassy silica mineral (lechatelierite or amorphous SiO2) fused in the heat from a lightning strike. Fulgurite is a common mineral with two varieties. Sand fulgurites, the more common, are branching, more or less cylindrical tubes that are about one centimetre (one-half inch) to several centimetres in diameter; they are commonly less than 3 metres (10 feet) long but sometimes reach 20 m (66 ft). The central cavity is usually lined with glass, and the exterior shows adhering sand grains. The shores of Lake Michigan and the Atlantic coast are typical sites

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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