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

This suggests the presence of minerals known as such as sodium-rich plagioclase (such as albite), iron-poor pyroxene (for example enstatite), iron-poor olivine (such as forsterite) and sulfide minerals such as oldhamite. —Ben Rider-Stokes, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2025

Both meteorites from the study, which Rider-Stokes analyzed with several instruments including an electron microscope, contain olivine and pyroxene, two iron-poor minerals confirmed by MESSENGER to be present on Mercury. —Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 14 July 2025

Eion's olivine is much cheaper than lime for farmers because capital from corporate removal buyers allows a lower sales cost. —Ben Geman, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025

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

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