calcite

noun

cal·​cite ˈkal-ˌsīt How to pronounce calcite (audio)
: a mineral CaCO3 consisting of calcium carbonate crystallized in hexagonal form and including common limestone, chalk, and marble compare aragonite
calcitic adjective

Examples of calcite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Marble was, at one point, alive: The metamorphic rock is forged from the calcite shells of innumerable sea creatures. Meara Sharma, The Dial, 22 July 2025 The desert sand at the test site is composed mostly of grains of quartz and feldspar, with small crystals of calcite, hornblende, and augite mixed in. David Bressan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 Carbonates, which include calcite, dolomite, aragonite, magnesite, and siderite, are formed by ions of carbon and oxygen dissolved in water that react with metal ions. New Atlas, 12 July 2025 Highlights of the five-night trip include seeing the cave’s own rainforest and a calcite wall called the Great Wall of Vietnam. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for calcite

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calcite was in 1840

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Calcite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calcite. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

calcite

noun
cal·​cite ˈkal-ˌsīt How to pronounce calcite (audio)
: a mineral substance made up of calcium carbonate and found in numerous forms including limestone, chalk, and marble
calcitic adjective

Medical Definition

calcite

noun
cal·​cite ˈkal-ˌsīt How to pronounce calcite (audio)
: a mineral CaCO3 consisting of calcium carbonate crystallized in hexagonal form and including common limestone, chalk, and marble
calcitic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on calcite

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