sial

[ sahy-al ]

nounGeology.
  1. the assemblage of rocks, rich in silica and alumina, that comprise the continental portions of the upper layer of the earth's crust.

Origin of sial

1
1920–25; <German, equivalent to Si(licium) silicium + Al(uminium) aluminum

Other words from sial

  • si·al·ic, adjective

Words Nearby sial

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How to use sial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sial

sial

/ (ˈsaɪəl) /


noun
  1. the silicon-rich and aluminium-rich rocks of the earth's continental upper crust, the most abundant individual rock being granite

Origin of sial

1
C20: si (licon) + al (uminium)

Derived forms of sial

  • sialic (saɪˈælɪk), adjective

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