Main Entry: gran·ite

Pronunciation: \ˈgra-nət\

Function: noun

Etymology: Italian granito, from past participle of granire to granulate, from grano grain, from Latin granum

Date: 1646

1 : a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for building and for monuments
2 : unyielding firmness or endurance <the cold granite of Puritan formalism — V. L. Parrington>

— gran·ite·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— gra·nit·ic \gra-ˈni-tik\ adjective

— gran·it·oid \ˈgra-nə-ˌtȯid\ adjective