barite

noun

bar·​ite ˈber-ˌīt How to pronounce barite (audio)
: barium sulfate occurring as a mineral

Examples of barite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Doctors regularly use barite, a sulfate mineral, as a contrast medium when taking X-rays of their patients. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2023 Because the barite gave the ichthyosaur’s bones a bright glow, the team was able to observe anatomical features that had been overlooked or obscured. Jack Tamisiea, New York Times, 1 June 2023 Oda was a perfect contender for X-rays, because over time, barite had completely replaced the creature’s bones. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2023 This contrast was a result in part of the fact that the material inside the animal’s bones had been entirely replaced by barite, a sulfate mineral that is used today as a radiographic contrast agent for medical exams. Jack Tamisiea, New York Times, 1 June 2023 There could be challenges with scaling up production commercially, including the need to increase barite mining, but researchers believe the ultrawhite paint could someday reduce the use of air conditioning by up to 70% in hot cities. Lindsey McGinnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Dec. 2021 Barium is obtained chiefly from the mineral barite consisting of barium-sulfate. David Bressan, Forbes, 4 July 2021 China supplies half of the U.S.’s barite, which is used in the hydraulic fracturing that revolutionized American oil production. Alistair MacDonald, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2020 The Astro Gallery of Gems on Fifth Avenue in New York attracts famous clients with its $30,000 pieces of barite and six-figure specimens of mesolite. Fortune, 31 May 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Greek barytēs weight, from barys

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barite was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near barite

Cite this Entry

“Barite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barite. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

barite

noun
bar·​ite ˈba(ə)r-ˌīt How to pronounce barite (audio)
ˈbe(ə)r-
: a white, yellow, or colorless mineral consisting of barium sulfate and occurring in crystals or as a mass

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