microlith

noun

mi·​cro·​lith ˈmī-krə-ˌlith How to pronounce microlith (audio)
: a tiny blade tool especially of the Mesolithic usually in a geometric shape (such as that of a triangle) and often set in a bone or wooden haft
microlithic adjective

Examples of microlith in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For the new study, which appears in the journal PLOS One, a team from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany took a closer look at the tools, or microliths, found in Fa-Hien Lena cave in Sri Lanka. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 7 Oct. 2019 According to a new paper published in PLUS One, microliths seen in the Fa Hien cave in the tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka date to 45,000 years ago. Christopher Carbone, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2019 The microliths found in the cave are oldest ever found in south Asia. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 7 Oct. 2019 Tiny stone tools -- known as microliths -- were essential to the growth of our species thousands of years ago. Christopher Carbone, Fox News, 4 Oct. 2019

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

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microlith was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near microlith

Cite this Entry

“Microlith.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microlith. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

microlith

noun
mi·​cro·​lith ˈmī-krō-ˌlith How to pronounce microlith (audio)
: a microscopic calculus or concretion
rupture of microliths into blood vesselsModern Medicine
compare gravel sense 1

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