caliche
[ kuh-lee-chee ]
/ kəˈli tʃi /
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noun Geology.
a surface deposit consisting of sand or clay impregnated with crystalline salts such as sodium nitrate or sodium chloride.
a zone of calcium carbonate or other carbonates in soils of semiarid regions.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of caliche
1855–60; <Spanish: flake of lime, equivalent to cal lime (<Latin calc-;see chalk) + -iche noun suffix
Words nearby caliche
calibre, caliceal, calicectasis, calicectomy, calices, caliche, calicivirus, calicle, calico, calicoback, calico bass
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for caliche
British Dictionary definitions for caliche
caliche
/ (kæˈliːtʃɪ) /
noun
Also called: calcrete a bed of sand or clay in arid regions cemented by calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, and other soluble minerals
a surface layer of soil encrusted with calcium carbonate, occurring in arid regionsAlso called: duricrust
Word Origin for caliche
C20: from American Spanish, from Latin calx lime
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for caliche
caliche
[ kə-lē′chē ]
See hardpan.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.