calcareous

adjective

cal·​car·​e·​ous kal-ˈker-ē-əs 

1

a

: resembling calcite or calcium carbonate especially in hardness

b

: consisting of or containing calcium carbonate

also : containing calcium

2

: growing on limestone or in soil impregnated with lime

calcareously adverb

Examples of calcareous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The surfaces were cleaned and examined for cut marks, but some surfaces had a layer of calcareous deposits that could not be cleaned without damaging the bones. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Apr. 2023

These calcareous rock formations in San Lorenzo Albarradas look as if a waterfall has been frozen to the side of a cliff. —Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2023

For instance, at the University of Colorado Boulder, the developing technology plans to produce biogenic limestone, which will use coccolithophores—or calcareous microalgae—to suck in and retain CO2 in mineral form by way of photosynthesis and calcification. —Sean Conlon, CBS News, 16 June 2022

But Daou is also producing premium Cabernet Sauvignon that easily competes with Napa, as the estate’s calcareous clay soils match the famous soils of Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux’s oldest-producing, still-active wine region. —Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin calcarius of lime, from calc-, calx

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

calcareous

adjective

cal·​car·​e·​ous kal-ˈkar-ē-əs 

-ˈker-

1

: resembling calcite or calcium carbonate especially in hardness

2

: consisting of or containing calcium carbonate

also : containing calcium

Medical Definition

calcareous

adjective

cal·​car·​e·​ous kal-ˈkar-ē-əs, -ˈker- 

1

: resembling calcite or calcium carbonate especially in hardness

2

: consisting of or containing calcium carbonate

also : containing calcium