mineral
/ˈmɪn.ə.ɹəl/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.03 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Any naturally occurring solid material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; especially, an inorganic and crystalline one.
adj
of, related to, or containing minerals
Example Sentences
- "The physiology of matter in the abstract is dynamical, that of mineral species is both dynamical and chemical, while that of organized forms is at once dynamical, chemical, and biotical."
- "Formation of alteration minerals in the host rock during deformation within the shear zone is indicated by the parallel foliation within the secondary micaceous minerals and the unmineralized host schist."
- "Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade."
- "But now Saudi Arabia is growing its mineral sector, to reduce its economic dependence on oil and, according to analysts, increase its geopolitical influence."
- "Neodymium is a rare earth, one of the minerals near the bottom of the periodic table that are crucial for everyday life."
- "O'er whom his very madness, like some ore / Among a mineral of metals base, / Shows itself pure;"
Etymology
From Middle English mineral, borrowed from Old French mineral, (French minéral), from Medieval Latin minerale, from minera (“ore”), probably ultimately derived from Latin mina (“ore, mine”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: mineral, minerale
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmɪn.ə.ɹəl/
- British English: /ˈmɪn.ə.ɹəl/