halite

noun

ha·​lite ˈha-ˌlīt How to pronounce halite (audio) ˈhā- How to pronounce halite (audio)
: salt that is in the form of large pieces or crystals : rock salt
In crystals of halite there are ions of two different kinds … The smaller ones are those of sodium, and the larger ones are those of chlorine.Sheldon Judson and Marvin E. Kauffman
Halite occurs chiefly in sedimentary rocks where it has been deposited by evaporation from sea water or salt lakes …W. A. Deer et al.
A small, choppy gravel road off state highway 178 takes us to the heart of this truly lunar landscape. The pinnacles surround us. Made of silty halite, they stand up to 2 ft. high. They are formed of the salt left behind from the evaporation of ground water.Scott Oldham

Examples of halite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most sodium is obtained nowadays by processing the mineral halite, also known as sodium-chloride or common table salt. David Bressan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022 Rocks are constructed, and while some cells are too sluggish to escape and are entombed by the silica, most squirm upward to the surface, leaving a network of holes that is filled in with salty water and ultimately coated with halite. Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 28 Nov. 2016 Scientists analyzed halite samples from 830 million years ago using optical techniques. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 Microorganisms found in the halite shrink and greatly reduce biological activity when host waters become too salty, the researchers said. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022

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

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of halite was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near halite

Cite this Entry

“Halite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halite. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

halite

noun
hal·​ite
ˈhal-ˌīt,
ˈhā-ˌlīt

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