limonite

noun

li·​mo·​nite ˈlī-mə-ˌnīt How to pronounce limonite (audio)
: a native hydrous ferric oxide of variable composition that is an ore of iron
limonitic adjective

Examples of limonite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What will be left is lower-grade limonite ore, which consists of less than 1.5 percent nickel, making processing by traditional means nearly impossible. Rebecca Tan, Dera Menra Sijabat and Joshua Irwandi, Anchorage Daily News, 12 May 2023 Red areas are due to rust mixtures, yellows are due to iron sulfide, purples are from goethite or oxidized limonite, and the greens come from chlorite. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2022 Researchers believe that may have been the result of a limonite particle being present in the stone at that location. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2022 The Jie Shun’s manifest listed its only cargo as limonite, a kind of iron ore. Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2019 At first, the cargo hold appeared to match the description on the manifest: 2,300 tons of loose yellow rocks called limonite, a kind of iron ore. Author: Joby Warrick, Alaska Dispatch News, 2 Oct. 2017

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

German Limonit, from Greek leimōn wet meadow; akin to Greek limnē pool

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of limonite was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near limonite

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

limonite

noun
li·​mo·​nite ˈlī-mə-ˌnīt How to pronounce limonite (audio)
: an ore of iron consisting of oxides of iron
limonitic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on limonite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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