olivine

noun

ol·​iv·​ine ˈä-lə-ˌvēn 

: a usually greenish mineral that is a complex silicate of magnesium and iron used especially in refractories compare peridot

olivinic

ˌä-lə-ˈvi-nik 

adjective

or olivinitic

ˌä-lə-və-ˈni-tik 

Examples of olivine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dust that has been detected already includes grains of olivine and iron sulfide. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 May 2025

Eion uses a mineral called olivine to replace lime in farm fields to manage soil pH balance. —Ben Geman, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025

Hailey gave birth to son Jack Blues in August, which explains choosing the peridot, a gem derived from the common mineral olivine, one of the few gemstones that occur in only a single color that is one of the birthstones for that month. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024

Another option is to neutralize the acid on site using alkaline minerals such as olivine or basalt. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German Olivin, from Latin oliva

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for olivine

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

olivine

noun

ol·​iv·​ine ˈäl-ə-ˌvēn 

: a usually greenish mineral that is a silicate of magnesium and iron