mineral

noun

min·er·al | \ˈmin-rəl,

ˈmi-nə-\

Definition of mineral

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : ore

2 : an inorganic substance (as in the ash of calcined tissue)

3 obsolete : mine

4 : something neither animal nor vegetable

5a : a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature broadly : any of various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (such as stone, coal, salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the ground

b : a synthetic substance having the chemical composition and crystalline form and properties of a naturally occurring mineral

6 minerals plural, British : mineral water

mineral

adjective

Definition of mineral (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : of or relating to minerals also : inorganic

2 : impregnated with mineral substances

Examples of mineral in a Sentence

Noun

an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Lively and floral, with modest mineral and citrus flavors. — Eric Asimov, New York Times, "Chardonnay, the Oregon Way," 14 June 2018 My body is getting a high dosage of vitamins and minerals and fluids that it's never experienced — 3,500 milligrams of vitamin C coursing from the IV. — Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, "Feeling the drip, drip, drip of the mobile IV craze," 13 June 2018 And the front-runners, in his view, were paying too little attention to the most important issue for the state's future: How to boost extraction of natural resources like timber, fish, minerals and oil and gas. — Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Frank Murkowski seriously considered running for Alaska governor again," 12 June 2018 The group demands tax payments and smuggles minerals and timber to fund its operations. — Habib Khan Totakhil, WSJ, "U.S., Afghan Forces Launch Major Offensive Against Islamic State," 8 June 2018 Most sunscreens offer a combination of mineral and chemical protection. — Ashley Weatherford, The Cut, "Why Your Sunscreen Should Be SPF 100," 24 May 2018 While the Instagram image shows three sunscreen formulas, Harper's Bazaar Australia pointed out that the brand's website lists five new sunscreens, including mineral and chemical formulas of various SPF strengths. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "The Ordinary Is Launching 5 New Sunscreens This Summer," 15 May 2018 Since the first electron microscopes turned their beams on bone in the late 1960s, scientists knew it was primarily made up of bone mineral and collagen, a fibrous protein. — Angus Chen, Scientific American, "Core Strength: Extreme “Close Ups” May Help Explain Why Our Bones Are So Strong," 3 May 2018 But mineral sunscreens generally aren’t highly rated by CR for screening out harmful UV light. — Consumer Reports, Washington Post, "What all those words on the sunscreen bottle really mean," 2 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Bloomberg Markets with Cory Johnson and Guest Host Dani Burger GUEST: Janet Lorin Higher Education Reporter Bloomberg Editorial Will discuss her mineral rights story. — Bloomberg.com, "Janet Lorin on Mineral Rights (Audio)," 7 Aug. 2017 The vast, mineral-rich nation is under pressure to ensure a fair election in December amid concerns that President Joseph Kabila, in office since 2001, will try to run again or hold on to power. — Washington Post, "Voting machines raise worries in Congo ahead of elections," 22 June 2018 All of these wines have savoriness in common, with herbal, mineral flavors and, in the best versions, a distinct absence of fruit flavors save for citrus. — Eric Asimov, New York Times, "From the Savory Side, the Salty Carricantes of Sicily," 26 Apr. 2018 Protect yourself from harmful UV rays with these reef-safe, paraben-free, mineral sunscreen alternatives. — Mandy Ferreira, Sunset, "10 Sunscreens That Keep You and the Coral Reefs Safe," 22 Jan. 2018 The country sits on an estimated $6 trillion worth of mineral reserves, including iron, gold, zinc, graphite and a host of rare earth materials needed in the production of smartphones and other high tech products. — James Griffiths, CNN, "After nukes and summits, can Kim Jong Un reform North Korea's economy?," 8 June 2018 Other states have allowed mineral rights to be severed from surface rights. — Sara Sneath, NOLA.com, "As Louisiana's coast washes away, state cashing in on disputed oil and gas rights," 31 May 2018 The stark landscape, intense sun and dry heat result in an austere and fiercely mineral wine, whose textural thrust seems to be a vinous version of the vines' stark surroundings. — Patrick Comiskey, latimes.com, "Cool white wines from hot climates," 15 May 2018 The region became the world's biggest producer of copper, and generated more mineral wealth than the California Gold Rush. — John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, "John Carlisle: Fortitude, tradition help Finns flourish in brutal U.P.," 24 Aug. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mineral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.