Main Entry: di·a·base

Pronunciation: \ˈdī-ə-ˌbās\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, probably from Greek diabasis act of crossing over, from diabainein to cross over, from dia- + bainein to go — more at come

Date: circa 1816

1 archaic : diorite
2 chiefly British : an altered basalt
3 : a fine-grained rock of the composition of gabbro but with an ophitic texture

— di·a·ba·sic \ˌdī-ə-ˈbā-sik\ adjective