Chalcophile Definition
kălkə-fīl
adjective
Relating to or being a chemical element that tends to bond with sulfur and form highly insoluble, dense sulfide minerals. Compounds with chalcophile elements are usually heavier than those with lithophile elements and are thought to fall into a planet's interior but remain above the core when the planet is largely molten during its formation.
American Heritage
noun
A chalcophile element.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Chalcophile
Noun
Singular:
chalcophile
Plural:
chalcophilesOrigin of Chalcophile
German chalkophil Greek khalkos copper –phile (from the fact that chalcophile elements are concentrated in the same formations as copper)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to chalcophile using the buttons below.