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 This mineral option works by sitting on top of the skin and deflecting UV rays. — Genevieve Monsma, Better Homes & Gardens, "8 of the Best Sunscreens for Every Type of Person," 18 May 2020 These seabed parcels are split between 22 countries and companies hoping to extract mineral riches, including cobalt, copper, nickel and rare earth elements used in manufacturing cell phones, batteries and electric cars. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Deep-Sea Mining’s Environmental Toll Could Last Decades," 1 May 2020 Here's What That Means Get enough zinc Dr. LeComte says the trace mineral zinc is needed by the body to make all of the different cells of the immune system, and for those cells to function properly. — Samantha Lefave, Health.com, "How to Boost Your Immune System, According to Experts," 30 Apr. 2020 Water Ionization Robert Khederian, an agent with Stribling & Associates, has seen an uptick in mineral-water pools, which reduce muck and the need for chlorine. — Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, "Everything You Need to Know Before Getting a Pool," 20 Apr. 2020 Drop in an Affresh tablet monthly to power away limescale and mineral buildup. — Lynn Redmile, Good Housekeeping, "The 2020 Good Housekeeping Top-Tested Cleaning Awards," 8 Apr. 2020 About 30 percent of the blend is sauvignon blanc, which adds acidity and mineral structure. — Washington Post, "Chill this $10 rosé to sip as the weather warms," 3 Apr. 2020 The Interior Department’s scientific work is the basis for critical decisions about water and mineral rights affecting millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of acres of land. — Hiroko Tabuchi, BostonGlobe.com, "How a Trump insider embeds climate denial in scientific research," 3 Mar. 2020 In that same spirit, forthcoming exhibitions will spotlight the state’s rich mineral heritage and celebrate its Aboriginal culture. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, "9 Museum Openings Worth Planning Trips Around in 2020," 3 Mar. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Or, for a full on nail care kit, try Arianna's nail kit with cuticle oil, a miraculous nail buffer that creates lasting shine, and a smoothing mineral hand treatment. — Chelsea Hall, Marie Claire, "The Nail Shapes Dictionary: All the Need-to-Know Styles," 26 Mar. 2020 The crystals on trench watches were mineral glass, which was relatively fragile. — Cole Pennington, Bloomberg.com, "How World War I Changed Watches Forever," 24 Sep. 2019 Their pore-friendly mineral foundation compact offers no-joke coverage in five shades and heavy-hitting SPF, all in a handy no-melt palette. — Shallon Lester, Condé Nast Traveler, "For Italy's Best Souvenirs, Head to the Pharmacy," 6 Jan. 2020 Although the cave is now dry, when the geode was growing, its cavity was filled with hot, mineral-rich water. — Sid Perkins, Science | AAAS, "How the world’s largest geode grew to half the size of a small bedroom," 18 Oct. 2019 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

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.