amphibole

noun

am·​phi·​bole ˈam(p)-fə-ˌbōl 

1

: hornblende

2

: any of a group of complex silicate minerals with like crystal structures that contain calcium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, or iron ions or a combination of them

Examples of amphibole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sodium occurs in many other minerals as well, including amphibole, zeolite and cryolite. —David Bressan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2022

For example, the titanium composition of quartz will vary as temperature changes, or the aluminum content of hornblende amphibole will vary as pressure changes. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2012

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, borrowed from Greek amphíbolos "put round, attached on both sides, doubtful, ambiguous," noun derivative from the base of amphibállein "to put round, put on (clothing), encompass, be doubtful or in dispute," from amphi- amphi- + bállein "to reach by throwing, strike, put, place" — more at devil entry 1

Note: The mineral name was introduced by the French priest and mineralogist René Just Haüy (1743-1822) in Traité de minéralogie, tome 3 (Paris, 1801), pp. 58-73. Haüy so named it because it was relatively difficult to distinguish from tourmaline, "staurotide" (= staurolite), and pyroxene.

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

amphibole

noun

am·​phi·​bole ˈam(p)-fə-ˌbōl 

: any of a group of rock-forming minerals of similar crystal structure that contain silicon, oxygen, calcium, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and sodium

Medical Definition

amphibole

noun

am·​phi·​bole ˈam(p)-fə-ˌbōl 

: any of a group of complex silicate minerals with like crystal structures that contain calcium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron ions or a combination of them see crocidolite