diabase

(-bās′)

noun

  1. diorite
  2. a finely crystalline, intrusive basaltic rock made up mainly of labradorite and pyroxene
  3. Brit. altered dolerite

Origin: Fr < Gr diabasis, a crossing over < dia- (see dia-) + bainein, to go, come

Related Forms:

See diabase in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A dark-gray to black, fine-textured igneous rock composed mainly of feldspar and pyroxene and used for monuments and as crushed stone.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , partly from Greek diabasis, a crossing over (from diabainein, to pass through or over; see diabetes)

Origin: and partly from diabase (dia-, two alteration of di-, from Greek di-; see di-1 + base, basis from Old French; see base1)

.

Learn more about diabase

link/cite print suggestion box