Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

ophitic

adjective
Save Word
ophit·​ic | \ ä-ˈfi-tik How to pronounce ophitic (audio) , ō- \

Definition of ophitic

: having or being a rock fabric in which lath-shaped plagioclase crystals are enclosed in later formed augite

First Known Use of ophitic

1870, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ophitic

ophite "rock with snake-like markings, serpentine" (borrowed from Latin ophītēs, borrowed from Greek ophī́tēs [líthos] "snake-like [stone]," from óphis "snake" + -itēs -ite entry 1) + -ic entry 1 — more at ophidian

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about ophitic

Time Traveler for ophitic

Time Traveler

The first known use of ophitic was in 1870

See more words from the same year

Statistics for ophitic

Cite this Entry

“Ophitic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ophitic. Accessed 7 Jun. 2020.

Comments on ophitic

What made you want to look up ophitic? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

advocate

Listen to the pronunciation of advocate

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

May 2020 Words of the Day Quiz

  • a blooming wisteria tree
  • Which is a synonym of exiguous?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games