botryoidal

[ bo-tree-oid-l ]

adjective

, Mineralogy.

1. having the form of a bunch of grapes:

   botryoidal hematite.

botryoidal

/ ˌbɒtrɪˈɔɪdəl; ˈbɒtrɪˌəʊs; -ˌəʊz /

adjective

1. (of minerals, parts of plants, etc) shaped like a bunch of grapes

botryoidal

/ bŏt′rē-oid′l /

1. Shaped like a bunch of grapes. Certain minerals and parts of organisms can be botryoidal.

Other Words From

• botry·oidal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of botryoidal¹

1810–20; < Greek botryoeid ( ḗs ) shaped like a bunch of grapes ( bótry ( s ) bunch of grapes + -oeidēs -oid ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of botryoidal¹

C18: from Greek botruoeidēs , from botrus cluster of grapes; see -oid

Example Sentences

It is never found as crystals, but always as encrusting and botryoidal masses with a microcrystalline structure.

From Project Gutenberg

A fibrous variety with a botryoidal or globular surface is known as botryolite.

From Project Gutenberg

At Arendal in Norway, the original locality for both the crystallized and botryoidal varieties, it is found in a bed of magnetite.

From Project Gutenberg

These shells occur at Hartlepool and Sunderland, where the rock assumes an oolitic and botryoidal character.

From Project Gutenberg

Our decks became dry, and studded with botryoidal lumps of dirty foot-trodden ice.

From Project Gutenberg