calcite

noun

cal·​cite ˈkal-ˌsīt 

: a mineral CaCO₃ consisting of calcium carbonate crystallized in hexagonal form and including common limestone, chalk, and marble compare aragonite

calcitic

kal-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Examples of calcite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for calcite

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

Kids Definition

calcite

noun

cal·​cite ˈkal-ˌsīt 

: a mineral substance made up of calcium carbonate and found in numerous forms including limestone, chalk, and marble

calcitic

kal-ˈsit-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

calcite

noun

cal·​cite ˈkal-ˌsīt 

: a mineral CaCO₃ consisting of calcium carbonate crystallized in hexagonal form and including common limestone, chalk, and marble

calcitic

kal-ˈsit-ik 

adjective