mineralize

verb min·er·al·ize \ ˈmin-rə-ˌlīz , ˈmi-nə- \

|Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of mineralize

mineralized; mineralizing

transitive verb

1 : to transform (a metal) into an ore

2 a : to impregnate or supply with minerals or an inorganic compound

b : to convert into mineral or inorganic form

3 : petrify

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mineralizable

play \ˌmin-rə-ˈlī-zə-bəl, ˌmi-nə-\ adjective

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mineralization

play \-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

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mineralizer

play \ˈmin-rə-ˌlī-zər, ˈmi-nə-\ noun

Recent Examples of mineralize from the Web

Warner is beyond meticulous about coffee, going so far as mineralizing water and selecting different beans for coffees with and without milk to optimize their flavors.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "Coat Check Coffee opens its 2nd location in Indianapolis," 14 May 2018
In the basalt, the CO2 had mineralized in a matter of years, making this a particularly attractive way to deal with the CO2 troll.

— scott k. johnson, Ars Technica, "First facility grabs CO₂ from the air and stores it underground," 13 Oct. 2017
That’s because the soft tissues of the undercarriage are usually long gone by the time the harder exoskeletons mineralize into the distinctive alien-looking fossils.

— National Geographic, "Found: Guts of 470-Million-Year-Old Sea Creature," 6 Feb. 2017
At the Hellisheidi geothermal plant near Reykjavik, researchers dissolve carbon dioxide in water and inject it into basalt rock, which chemically reacts with the gas, mineralizing it.

— christina nunez, National Geographic, "How One Country Is Making Rocks Out of Air Pollution," 9 June 2016
The gas mineralized into calcium carbonate, the main component of limestone.

— steve volk, Discover Magazine, "Carbon Dioxide and the New Stone Age," 15 Dec. 2016

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