diabase

[dahy-uh-beys]

noun Petrology.

a fine-grained gabbro occurring as minor intrusions.
British. a dark igneous rock consisting essentially of augite and feldspar; an altered dolerite.

Origin of diabase

1810–20; < French, equivalent to dia- (error for di- two) + base base¹

Related formsdi·a·ba·sic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for diabase

Historical Examples of diabase

Quartz porphyry, diabase and diorite appear in the Ardennes.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1
Various
The minerals of diabase are the same as those of dolerite, viz.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3
Various
One, a complete specimen composed of a diabase, was shaped by pecking followed by grinding.
The Topanga Culture Final Report on Excavations, 1948
A. E. Treganza
In Arizona chrysotile is found in veins in cherty limestone, associated with diabase intrusives.
The Economic Aspect of Geology
C. K. Leith
At St Andreasberg in the Harz it occurs both in diabase and in the veins of silver ore.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9
Various

British Dictionary definitions for diabase

diabase

noun

British an altered dolerite
US another name for dolerite

Derived Formsdiabasic, adjective

Word Origin for diabase

C19: from French, from Greek diabasis a crossing over, from diabainein to cross over, from dia- + bainein to go

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

diabase in Science

diabase

[dī′ə-bās′]

A dark-gray to black, medium-grained igneous rock consisting mainly of labradorite and pyroxene. Diabase is compositionally similar to andesite, but has coarser grains. It is commonly found in sills and dikes. Also called dolerite