pozzolana

noun

poz·​zo·​la·​na ˌpät-sə-ˈlä-nə How to pronounce pozzolana (audio)
variants or pozzolan
: finely divided siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material that reacts chemically with slaked lime at ordinary temperature and in the presence of moisture to form a strong slow-hardening cement
pozzolanic adjective

Examples of pozzolana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Colored glass, marble and a special volcanic stone called pozzolana pull the artwork together. Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023 For instance, in the mortar used during the first phase of construction, pink pozzolana was used exclusively, while the mortar used in the second phase also contained volcanic glass—typical of a different deposit of pink pozzolana further afield. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Feb. 2022 The ancient Romans did something similar, using volcanic ash in their pozzolana concrete, examples of which have lasted thousands of years. IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2018 And so Giocondo built structures that mixed lime and pozzolana, as Vitruvius instructed. Jonathan Schifman, Popular Mechanics, 12 Oct. 2017 Clay was a major component, and a volcanic ash, today called pozzolana, was also used. Jonathan Schifman, Popular Mechanics, 12 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pozzolana.' 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

Italian pozzolana

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pozzolana was in 1684

Dictionary Entries Near pozzolana

Cite this Entry

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

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