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diatomite

/ (daɪˈætəˌmaɪt) /

noun

a soft very fine-grained whitish rock consisting of the siliceous remains of diatoms deposited in the ocean or in ponds or lakes. It is used as an absorbent, filtering medium, insulator, filler, etcSee also diatomaceous earth

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Words nearby diatomite

diathesis, diatom, diatomaceous, diatomaceous earth, diatomic, diatomite, diatonic, diatonicism, diatreme, diatribe, diatropism
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

Example sentences from the Web for diatomite

  • The bluish pellets of diatomite soaked in hydrocyanic acid were poured through chutes.

    My Visit To Hell|Christopher Buckley|January 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST

  • Diatomite is principally used for the manufacture of dynamite on account of its value as an absorbent.

    The New Gresham Encyclopedia|Various

Scientific definitions for diatomite

diatomite
[ dī-ăt′ə-mīt′ ]

A fine, light-colored, friable sedimentary rock consisting mainly of the silica-rich cell walls of diatoms. Diatomite forms both in lacustrine and marine environments. It is used in industry as a filler, filtering agent, absorbent, abrasive, and insulator.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.