dolomite

noun

do·​lo·​mite ˈdō-lə-ˌmīt How to pronounce dolomite (audio)
ˈdä-
1
: a mineral CaMg(CO3)2 consisting of a calcium magnesium carbonate found in crystals and in extensive beds as a compact limestone
2
: a limestone or marble rich in magnesium carbonate
dolomitic adjective

Examples of dolomite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The limestone/dolomite cave shares much in common with Cave of the Mounds, including similar formations (stalactites, stalagmites, columns and flowstones) and development inside (stairs, railings and lighting), but there is one major difference: bats. Chelsey Lewis, Journal Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2022 Also, the air in the Inyo National Forest is so dry, the climate so cold and the rocky dolomite soil — the color of which lends its name to the White Mountains — so unfriendly that the pines have little competition from other plants, creatures or pests. Soumya Karlamangla Adam Perez, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2022 The kitchen has leathered dolomite countertops. Sarah Paynter, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022 Superman’s Crawl, a 10-inch high tunnel, wormed through on your stomach with one arm extended; Dragon’s Back, a nearly 50 foot climb up jagged dolomite requiring ropes and harnesses; and that final vertical chute, about as wide as printer paper, back down another 40 feet. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2019 Covering an area more than twice the size of Brooklyn, the grasslands contain hundreds of complex dolomite caves, and more than a dozen early hominin dig sites with names like Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai. Russ Juskalian, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2016 The element naturally occurs in minerals such as brucite, magnesite, dolomite, and carnalite. Alyssa Edwards, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022 The Gem cabinet is fully encased in claret dolomite and sits on four honed solid stone legs. Sean Santiago, ELLE Decor, 17 Nov. 2022 The Dolomites — as well as the mineral dolomite — get their name from Déodat de Dolomieu, a French geologist who around 1790 brought global attention to the limestone found in South Tyrol. Kenneth R. Rosen, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dolomite.' 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, from Déodat de Dolomieu †1801 French geologist

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dolomite was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near dolomite

Cite this Entry

“Dolomite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dolomite. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

dolomite

noun
do·​lo·​mite ˈdō-lə-ˌmīt How to pronounce dolomite (audio)
ˈdäl-ə-
: a mineral found in broad layers as a compact limestone

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