basalt
basalt definition
ba·salt (bə sôlt′; bā′sôlt′, bas′ ôlt′)
noun
- a dark, fine-grained, usually extrusive igneous rock that is more basic than andesite, consisting chiefly of plagioclase feldspars and pyroxene: often found in vast sheets, it is the most common extrusive igneous rock
- a kind of unglazed, black pottery designed by Josiah Wedgwoodalso basaltware ba·salt′·ware′
Etymology: earlier basaltes < L, a dark Ethiopian marble: term used by Pliny for basanites < Gr basanitēs, species of slate used to test gold < basanos, touchstone, test (ult. < Egypt bḫnw) + -itēs, -ite
Related Forms:
- basaltic ba·sal′·tic (bə sôlt′ik) adjective
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