silex

noun

si·​lex ˈsī-ˌleks How to pronounce silex (audio)
: silica or a siliceous material (such as powdered tripoli) especially for use as a filler in paints or wood

Examples of silex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This comes from vineyards in Touraine, on soils of clay, limestone and flint (the prized silex of the Loire Valley). Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024 Pompeii's streets were paved with silex, or cooled lava stone. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 15 May 2019

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

Latin silic-, silex hard stone, flint

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silex was circa 1592

Dictionary Entries Near silex

Cite this Entry

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

Medical Definition

silex

noun
si·​lex ˈsī-ˌleks How to pronounce silex (audio)
: silica or a siliceous material especially for use as a filler in paints or wood or as a dental material
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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