rhyolite

noun

rhy·​o·​lite ˈrī-ə-ˌlīt 

: a very acid volcanic rock that is the lava form of granite

rhyolitic

ˌrī-ə-ˈli-tik 

adjective

Examples of rhyolite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The stones are pink because they're made of rhyolite, a rock formed from ancient volcanic activity. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

And another outcrop in the valley below, Craig Rhos-y-felin, supplied most of the rhyolite. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024

There was likely an intrusion of new magma under the volcano a few years before the 2011 eruption, so that event may have primed the rhyolite to erupt and caused the faults to become less stable as the stresses changed. — Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2022

Word History

Etymology

German Rhyolith, from Greek rhyax stream, stream of lava (from rhein) + German -lith -lite

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rhyolite

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

rhyolite

noun

rhy·​o·​lite ˈrī-ə-ˌlīt 

: a very acid volcanic rock that is the lava form of granite

rhyolitic

ˌrī-ə-ˈlit-ik 

adjective