phyllite

[ fil-ahyt ]

noun
  1. a slaty rock, the cleavage planes of which have a luster imparted by minute scales of mica.

Origin of phyllite

1
First recorded in 1820–30; phyll- + -ite1

Other words from phyllite

  • phyl·lit·ic [fi-lit-ik], /fɪˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby phyllite

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How to use phyllite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phyllite

phyllite

/ (ˈfɪlaɪt) /


noun
  1. a compact lustrous metamorphic rock, rich in mica, derived from a shale or other clay-rich rock

Origin of phyllite

1
C19: from phyll (o) - + -ite 1

Derived forms of phyllite

  • phyllitic (fɪˈlɪtɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for phyllite

phyllite

[ fĭlīt′ ]


  1. A green, gray, or red metamorphic rock, similar to slate but often having a wavy surface and a distinctive luster imparted by the presence of mica.

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