crocidolite

American

[kroh-sid-l-ahyt] / kroʊˈsɪd lˌaɪt /

noun

Mineralogy.

a bluish, asbestine variety of riebeckite.

crocidolite British

/ krəʊˈsɪdəˌlaɪt /

noun

a blue fibrous amphibole mineral consisting of sodium iron silicate: a variety of asbestos used in cement products and pressure piping

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of crocidolite

1825–35; < Greek krokid- (stem of krokís ) nap, wool + -o- + -lite

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.

There are several types of asbestos ranging from so-called "white asbestos", which is the least dangerous, to "blue", or crocidolite, which is the most.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2025

Highly-carcinogenic crocidolite asbestos was previously found in Gaza by the UN.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2025

They are crocidolite - often referred to as blue asbestos; amosite - often called brown asbestos; and chrysotile - white asbestos.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2022

That’s one of six minerals – along with chrysotile, actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite – that occur in nature as crystalline fibers known as asbestos, a recognized carcinogen.

From Reuters • Dec. 14, 2018

At this exhibition I found a splendid display of crocidolite, the sight of which well repaid the visit.

From Asbestos Its production and use, with some account of the asbestos mines of Canada by Jones, Robert H.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023