chert

[ churt ]

noun
  1. a compact rock consisting essentially of microcrystalline quartz.

Origin of chert

1
First recorded in 1670–80; origin uncertain

Other words from chert

  • cherty, adjective

Words Nearby chert

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How to use chert in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chert

chert

/ (tʃɜːt) /


noun
  1. a microcrystalline form of silica usually occurring as bands or layers of pebbles in sedimentary rock. Formula: SiO 2 . Varieties include flint, lyddite (Lydian stone): Also called: hornstone

Origin of chert

1
C17: of obscure origin

Derived forms of chert

  • cherty, 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 chert

chert

[ chûrt ]


  1. A hard, brittle sedimentary rock consisting of microcrystalline quartz. It is often reddish-brown to green but can also occur in a variety of other colors, especially white, pink, brown, or black. Chert often contains impurities such as calcium, iron-oxide, or the remains of silica-rich organisms. It usually occurs as nodules in limestone and dolomite and has curved fractures.

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