mica

American  

[mahy-kuh] / ˈmaɪ kə /

noun

micas plural

1. any member of a group of minerals, hydrous silicates of aluminum with other bases, chiefly potassium, magnesium, iron, and lithium, that separate readily into thin, tough, often transparent, and usually elastic laminae; isinglass.

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mica British  

/ maɪˈkeɪʃəs, ˈmaɪkə /

noun

1. any of a group of lustrous rock-forming minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminium, potassium, etc, in monoclinic crystalline form, occurring in igneous and metamorphic rock. Because of their resistance to electricity and heat they are used as dielectrics, in heating elements, etc

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mica Scientific  

/ mī′kə /

1. Any of a group of hydrous aluminosilicate minerals with the general formula (K,Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Li,Al) _2–3 (Al,Si) ₄ O ₁₀ (OH,F) ₂ that can be split easily into thin, partly transparent sheets. Mica is common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and often occurs as flakes or sheets. It is highly resistant to heat and is used in electric fuses and other electrical equipment. Muscovite and biotite are types of mica

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• micaceous
  adjective
• micalike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• micas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mica

First recorded in 1700–10, mica is from the Latin word mīca crumb, morsel, grain

Example Sentences

Last year, Christie’s sold off their sister-in-law Mica Ertegun’s estate that included a $121.2 million René Magritte from 1954, “Empire of Lights.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Having seen spectacular photos by him and others, my wife, Mica, and I impatiently waited for the moon to reflect the sun’s light on the falls.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

Some show off their acting chops; others, like Mica Levi and Jon Batiste, contributed indelible music to the recognized films.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2024

The bassist had also toured with big names such as Roy Myers, a US funk, soul, and jazz composer, and British stars Mica Paris and Cliff Richard.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2024

We trekked all over Mica, past hundreds of grassless stone-and-cactus front yards, through the Tudorized shopping center, skirting the electronics business park around which the city had' been invented a mere fifteen years before.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli