Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

dolerite

noun
Save Word
dol·​er·​ite | \ ˈdä-lə-ˌrīt How to pronounce dolerite (audio) \

Definition of dolerite

1 : any of various coarse basalts
2 chiefly British : diabase sense 3

Other Words from dolerite

doleritic \ ˌdä-​lə-​ˈri-​tik How to pronounce doleritic (audio) \ adjective

First Known Use of dolerite

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for dolerite

French dolérite, from Greek doleros deceitful, from dolos deceit; from its being easily mistaken for diorite

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about dolerite

Time Traveler for dolerite

Time Traveler

The first known use of dolerite was in 1838

See more words from the same year

Statistics for dolerite

Cite this Entry

“Dolerite.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolerite. Accessed 15 December 2019.

More from Merriam-Webster on dolerite

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with dolerite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dolerite

Comments on dolerite

What made you want to look up dolerite? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

delectation

Listen to the pronounciation of delectation

delight or enjoyment

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz

  • scrabble tiles that read scrabble quiz
  • Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games