Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

beneficiate

American  
[ben-uh-fish-ee-eyt] / ˌbɛn əˈfɪʃ iˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

Metallurgy.
beneficiated, beneficiating
  1. to treat (ore) to make more suitable for smelting.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of beneficiate

1870–75, < Spanish benefici ( ar ) to benefit, profit from (especially mining or farming) (verbal derivative of beneficio < Latin beneficium; see benefice) + -ate 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Most businessmen had never heard of the company and they were baffled by its purpose, which is to "beneficiate" an ore named taconite.

From Time Magazine Archive

Unless this coal is beneficiated at home, it can replace the English coal in the export field only at increased cost of transportation and lower efficiency in use.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

Finally, finding himself in serious financial difficulties, he entered the service of the Colombian Mining Company, and was to be sent to Colombia "for the purpose of introducing the Mexican system of beneficiating there."

From The Life of George Borrow by Jenkins, Herbert George

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training