gneiss Hear it!

gneiss Definition

gneiss (nīs)

noun

a coarsegrained, metamorphic rock resembling granite, consisting of alternating layers of different minerals, such as feldspar, quartz, mica, and hornblende, and having a banded appearance

Etymology: Ger gneis < OHG gneisto, a spark, akin to ON gneisti, OE gnast: from the luster of certain of the components

gneiss Related Forms

gneissic adjective gneiss·oid adjective

gneiss Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • granitic: The substrata are mostly sandstone of various formation, and granitic gneiss, of which the rocks are mainly composed.
  • black: The church's main point of interest are the three tombs carved in black gneiss depicting knights in armor.

Modifies a noun

region: Exhumation of UHP rocks by transtension in the western Gneiss Region, Scandinavian Caledonides.

Noun used with modifier

  • granite: Natural soils have developed from a parent material consisting of glacial till derived from granite and granite gneiss.
  • feldspar: The anorthosite and garnet - pyroxene - feldspar gneisses are intimately related and the complex was probably originally layered.
  • hornblende: The hornblende gneiss is dark in color and occurs as pods and bands within the lighter colored gneiss.

Browse dictionary entries near gneiss

  1. gnawing
  2. gnaw
  3. -gnathous
  4. gnathonic
  5. gnathite
  6. gnathic index
  7. gnathic
  8. gnat
  9. gnash
  10. gnarled
  1. GNMA
  2. gnocchi
  3. gnome
  4. gnomic
  5. gnomon
  6. gnomonic
  7. -gnomy
  8. gnosis
  9. -gnosis
  10. gnostic