tachylyte

or tach·y·lite

[ tak-uh-lahyt ]

nounPetrography.
  1. a black, glassy form of basalt, readily fusible and of a high luster.

Origin of tachylyte

1
First recorded in 1865–70; tachy- + -lyte2

Other words from tachylyte

  • tach·y·lit·ic [tak-uh-lit-ik], /ˌtæk əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for tachylyte

tachylyte

tachylite

/ (ˈtækɪˌlaɪt) /


noun
  1. a black basaltic glass often found on the edges of intrusions of basalt

Origin of tachylyte

1
C19: from German Tachylit, from tachy- + Greek lutos soluble, melting, from luein to release; so called because it fuses easily when heated. The form tachylite is influenced by -lite stone

Derived forms of tachylyte

  • tachylytic (ˌtækɪˈlɪtɪk) or tachylitic, adjective

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