dolerite

noun

dol·​er·​ite ˈdä-lə-ˌrīt 

1

: any of various coarse basalts

2

chiefly British : diabase sense 3

doleritic

ˌdä-lə-ˈri-tik 

adjective

Examples of dolerite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shale, granite, dolerite, sandstone, and mica schist showed pink, beige, chocolate, and red, depending on the position of the sun. — Aatish Taseer, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2025

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

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

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

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

Rhymes for dolerite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite