chert
[ churt ]
/ tʃɜrt /
noun
a compact rock consisting essentially of microcrystalline quartz.
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Origin of chert
First recorded in 1670–80; origin uncertain
OTHER WORDS FROM chert
cherty, adjectiveWords nearby chert
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for chert
British Dictionary definitions for chert
chert
/ (tʃɜːt) /
noun
a microcrystalline form of silica usually occurring as bands or layers of pebbles in sedimentary rock. Formula: SiO 2 . Varieties include flint, lyddite (Lydian stone)Also called: hornstone
Derived forms of chert
cherty, adjectiveWord Origin for chert
C17: of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Scientific definitions for chert
chert
[ chûrt ]
A hard, brittle sedimentary rock consisting of microcrystalline quartz. It is often reddish-brown to green but can also occur in a variety of other colors, especially white, pink, brown, or black. Chert often contains impurities such as calcium, iron-oxide, or the remains of silica-rich organisms. It usually occurs as nodules in limestone and dolomite and has curved fractures.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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