dolerite

noun

dol·​er·​ite ˈdä-lə-ˌrīt How to pronounce dolerite (audio)
1
: any of various coarse basalts
2
chiefly British : diabase sense 3
doleritic adjective

Examples of dolerite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the researchers only found the stony growths on the cave's ceiling, which is made of dolerite. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 22 Aug. 2014 Tasman National Park, with its towering dolerite cliffs, and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, with its diverse hiking paths and mercurial weather, are standouts. Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2023 Sublimation on Dolerite: Through an ongoing process of snowfall and sublimation, small holes are carved into pieces of a volcanic basalt called dolerite. Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2013 In parts, the rocks fit together like a Roman road in a multicolored mosaic of rock types: sandstone, volcanic dolerite and granite. Jennifer Berglund, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2013 In addition, a stone chip found in the former socket hole suggested that the missing stone was also a non-spotted dolerite. National Geographic, 19 July 2022 Stone 62 is one of only three bluestones at Stonehenge made of non-spotted dolerite, the type of stone used to build Waun Mawn. National Geographic, 19 July 2022 In this south-facing view of Central Beacon, snow falls and sublimates atop a large dolerite boulder. Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2013 One quarry, an outcrop called Carn Goedog, seems to have supplied most of the bluish-gray, white-speckled dolerite at Stonehenge. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Mar. 2022

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

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

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dolerite was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near dolerite

Cite this Entry

“Dolerite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolerite. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on dolerite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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