Main Entry:

py·rox·ene

Pronunciation:

\pī-ˈräk-ˌsēn, pə-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French pyroxène, from Greek pyr- + xenos stranger

Date:

1800

: any of a group of igneous-rock-forming silicate minerals that contain calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, or aluminum, usually occur in short prismatic crystals or massive form, are often laminated, and vary in color from white to dark green or black

— py·rox·e·nic \ˌpī-ˌräk-ˈsē-nik, pə-, -ˈse-\ adjective

— py·rox·e·noid \pī-ˈräk-sə-ˌnȯid, pə-\ adjective or noun