albite

noun

al·​bite ˈal-ˌbīt How to pronounce albite (audio)
: a triclinic usually white mineral of the feldspar group consisting of a sodium aluminum silicate
albitic adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Swedish albit, from Latin albus "white, light-colored" + Swedish -it -ite entry 1 — more at album

Note: The name was introduced by the Swedish mineralogist Johan Gottlieb Gahn (1745-1818) and Jakob berzelius in "Undersökning af några i grannskapet af Fahlun funna fossilier," Afhandlingar i Fysik, Kemi och Mineralogi, Fjerde delen (1815), p. 180.

First Known Use

circa 1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of albite was circa 1843

Dictionary Entries Near albite

Cite this Entry

“Albite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/albite. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

albite

noun
al·​bite ˈal-ˌbīt How to pronounce albite (audio)
: a usually white feldspar containing sodium

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