gabbro

noun

gab·​bro ˈga-(ˌ)brō How to pronounce gabbro (audio)
plural gabbros
: a granular igneous rock composed essentially of calcic plagioclase, a ferromagnesian mineral, and accessory minerals
gabbroic adjective

Examples of gabbro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While at Pomona, Jade Star and I extracted zircon from the rhyolites and from one gabbro as well. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2011 Sometimes, strange reactions occur, like generating a gabbro after throwing olivine crystals into the molten basalt. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2013 The rise itself is a large plateau about the size of California that contains 2,500,000 cubic kilometers of most basalt and gabbro (the stuff of oceanic crust). Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 6 Sep. 2013 Not getting a sample of this gabbro was frustrating, but scientists are already extracting valuable lessons from the momentary failure. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2021 Basalt and gabbro rocks, for example, have tiny defects in their crystals that could release electrical charges into the air. Christina Nunez, National Geographic, 16 Apr. 2019 The rise itself is a large plateau about the size of California that contains 2,500,000 cubic kilometers of most basalt and gabbro (the stuff of oceanic crust). Erik Klemetti, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2013

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

borrowed from Italian (Tuscan), perhaps going back to Vulgar Latin *gabrum, altered from Latin glabr-, glaber "hairless, smooth" — more at glad entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gabbro was circa 1776

Dictionary Entries Near gabbro

Cite this Entry

“Gabbro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gabbro. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

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