mineral

noun

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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 Mycelia could also be used to provide bioluminescent lighting, filter water, extract minerals, regulate humidity and even repair itself. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, "Astronauts on the moon and Mars may grow their homes there out of mushrooms, says NASA," 17 Jan. 2020 Apparel and textiles Plastic, rubber 24 65 57 23 7 45 50 30 64 20 *Includes food, minerals, optical products, musical instruments, etc. . — William Mauldin, WSJ, "U.S., China Sign Deal Easing Trade Tensions," 15 Jan. 2020 Some of these claims still have gold and other minerals, but not all of them. — Alicia Kortendick, oregonlive, "Discovery Channel’s ‘Reclaimed’ | How to watch, TV channel, live stream," 10 Jan. 2020 Filiberto’s team recreated the highly volatile atmospheric conditions found on Venus’s surface in a laboratory to test how quickly the atmosphere degrades minerals, such as olivine, found in lava. — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "Looks Like Venus Was Volcanically Active All Along," 3 Jan. 2020 Holiday angst may have an impact on your levels of this essential mineral, responsible for helping red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your so-busy body. — Good Housekeeping, "Power Through Holiday Stress With These Expert-Approved Tips and Tricks," 21 Dec. 2019 The materials that prop up the web, such as rare earth minerals, will become harder and harder to come by. — Kevin Lozano, The New Republic, "Can the Internet Survive Climate Change?," 18 Dec. 2019 The country is excited by possibilities in the Arctic as the Earth warms: fish, minerals, oil and gas that will become easier to extract; new shipping routes that will open up and shorten journeys between China and Europe. — The Economist, "The voyage of two icebreakers have been creating headlines in China," 28 Nov. 2019 Nations are probing the ocean floor in search of valuable minerals, oil, and gas. — Warren Cornwall, Science | AAAS, "Trump plan to push seafloor mapping wins warm reception," 22 Nov. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Take your pick of the various hot springs and vapor caves, the biggest being Glenwood Hot Springs and Pool (billed as the largest mineral outdoor hot springs in the world), which recently finished a massive renovation project. — Sarah Kuta, The Know, "What to do in the winter when you don’t ski, from hot springs to ice bumper cars," 18 Dec. 2019 The mountain springs have gifted the spot with 37 thermal waters, varying in mineral composition and temperature from four to 56 degrees. — Gemma Askham, Condé Nast Traveler, "5 Best Day Trips from Barcelona," 4 Mar. 2018 Their takes on those classics feel fresh and novel, from an insistently floral Zinfandel from Lodi’s Stampede Vineyard to their hauntingly mineral Chardonnay from Sonoma’s Michael Mara Vineyard. — Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, "Winemakers to Watch," 8 Dec. 2019 Similarly, Sweden’s 2014 minerals policy taxes mineral sales at one fifth of a percentage point. — Juliana Hanle, Scientific American, "The Fight for the Reindeer," 18 Nov. 2019 Cinque Terre is often light and crisp, with a flowery or mineral taste; Sciacchetrà is derived from the same blend as Cinque Terre, but solely from grapes grown closest to the sea. — Nick Remsen, Vogue, "5 Vineyard Experiences That Go Beyond Your Typical Tasting," 5 Oct. 2019 Culver noted that the federal conservation plan for sage grouse in Colorado says that agencies should prioritize mineral development outside of the bird’s habitat. — Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, "Federal oil, gas leases net $601K in revenue — and objections to drilling in wildlife habitat," 29 Sep. 2019 The results yielded new insights into how the mineral crusts form. — Warren Cornwall, Science | AAAS, "Mountains hidden in the deep sea are biological hot spots. Will mining ruin them?," 12 Sep. 2019 Decades ago, the sunscreens that Americans were dabbing on their noses were often mineral concoctions, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, that sat on the skin in a thick white cream and physically blocked the sun’s rays. — Kim Tingley, New York Times, "When You Wear Sunscreen, You’re Taking Part in a Safety Study," 23 July 2019

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.