Mineral Definition
mĭnər-əl
minerals
noun
An inorganic substance occurring naturally in the earth and having a consistent and distinctive set of physical properties (e.g., a crystalline structure, hardness, color, etc.) and a composition that can be expressed by a chemical formula: sometimes applied to substances in the earth of organic origin, such as coal.
Webster's New World
Any of various natural substances, as:
American Heritage
Webster's New World
Any substance that is neither vegetable nor animal.
Webster's New World
Any element or inorganic compound needed by plants and animals for proper growth and functioning, as iron, phosphorus, or nitrate.
Webster's New World
adjective
Of or relating to minerals.
A mineral deposit.
American Heritage
Of, like, consisting of, or containing a mineral or minerals.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Mineral
Noun
Singular:
mineral
Plural:
mineralsOrigin of Mineral
-
Middle English from Medieval Latin minerāle from neuter of minerālis pertaining to mines from Old French miniere mine from mine mine1
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Medieval Latin, minera (“ore”).
From Wiktionary
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