rutile

noun

ru·​tile ˈrü-ˌtēl How to pronounce rutile (audio)
: a reddish-brown to black mineral that consists of titanium dioxide usually with a little iron and has a brilliant metallic or adamantine luster

Examples of rutile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The analysis revealed the presence of zircon, apatite and rutile grains within the fragments. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024 These rock particles contain fragile minerals called apatite and rutile that tell scientists about recent geology, as well as zircon, a super sturdy mineral that can let researchers peer billions of years into the past. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2024 The team took samples from two fragments of the Altar Stone and examined the age and chemistry of grains of zircon, apatite, and rutile using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, along with isotopic analysis. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024 But the apatite and rutile grains came from between 458 million and 470 million years ago. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024 Titanium ores ilmenite and rutile are available in many countries, but the capability to turn them into titanium sponge—its purest form, which is mixed into alloys for industrial purposes—is far more limited. Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 Choose from an assortment of colors, including satin white, rutile blue, blue-green satin matte, and Joe’s green. Shelby Comroe, Marie Claire, 7 Dec. 2020 Titanium oxide is rare on Earth, found in minerals such as rutile, anatase, and brookite. Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, 13 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rutile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German Rutil, from Latin rutilus

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rutile was in 1805

Dictionary Entries Near rutile

Cite this Entry

“Rutile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rutile. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

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