andesite

[ an-duh-zahyt ]

noun
  1. a dark-colored volcanic rock composed essentially of plagioclase feldspar and one or more mafic minerals, as hornblende or biotite.

Origin of andesite

1
1840–50; named after Andes; see -ite1

Other words from andesite

  • an·de·sit·ic [an-duh-zit-ik], /ˌæn dəˈzɪt ɪk/, adjective

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How to use andesite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for andesite

andesite

/ (ˈændɪˌzaɪt) /


noun
  1. a fine-grained tan or grey volcanic rock consisting of plagioclase feldspar, esp andesine, amphibole, and pyroxene

Origin of andesite

1
C19: from Andes + -ite 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for andesite

andesite

[ ăndĭ-zīt′ ]


  1. A gray, fine-grained volcanic rock. Andesite consists mainly of sodium-rich plagioclase feldspar and one or more mafic minerals such as biotite, hornblende, or pyroxene. It often contains small, visible crystals (phenocrysts) of plagioclase.

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