basalt
[buh-sawlt, bas-awlt, bey-sawlt]
noun
the dark, dense igneous rock of a lava flow or minor intrusion, composed essentially of labradorite and pyroxene and often displaying a columnar structure.
Origin of basalt
1595–1605; < Latin basaltēs, a misreading, in manuscripts of Pliny, of basanītēs < Greek basanī́tēs (líthos) touchstone, equivalent to básan(os) touchstone (ultimately < Egyptian bh̬n(w) graywacke) + -ītēs -ite1
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for basalt
Contemporary Examples of basalt
Historical Examples of basalt
Many varieties of stone were used, but the preference was given to basalt.
The Railroad QuestionWilliam Larrabee
Behold, my flesh is solid as basalt, my bones are bars of steel!
The Mummy's FootThophile Gautier
The statues of basalt rolled their eyes and smiled hideously.
King CandaulesThophile Gautier
A good solid rock, like basalt, can be cut into slices of about 3/32 inch thick.
On Laboratory ArtsRichard Threlfall
Of what use would porphyry, or granite, or basalt be for such purposes?
Pagan and Christian RomeRodolfo Lanciani
basalt
noun
Word Origin for basalt
C18: from Late Latin basaltēs, variant of basanītēs, from Greek basanitēs touchstone, from basanos, of Egyptian origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
basalt
[bə-sôlt′, bā′sôlt′]
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
basalt
[(buh-sawlt, bay-sawlt)]
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.