sphalerite Hear it!

sphalerite definition

sphal·er·ite (sfal′ər īt′, sfāl′-)

noun

a usually brownish mineral, (Zn,Fe)S, the chief ore of zinc; zinc iron sulfide

Etymology: Ger sphalerit < Gr sphaleros, deceptive (< sphallein, to trip, deceive: for IE base see spoil) + -it, -ite: so named from being mistaken for other ores

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.