granite

¹

[ gran-it ]

noun

1. a coarse-grained igneous rock composed chiefly of orthoclase and albite feldspars and of quartz, usually with lesser amounts of one or more other minerals, as mica, hornblende, or augite.
2. anything compared to this rock in great hardness, firmness, or durability.

granité

²

[ gran-i-tey, grah-ni-; French gra-nee-tey ]

noun

, French Cooking.

1. ice ( def 4 ).

granite

/ ɡrəˈnɪtɪk; ˈɡrænɪt /

noun

1. a light-coloured coarse-grained acid plutonic igneous rock consisting of quartz, feldspars, and such ferromagnesian minerals as biotite or hornblende: widely used for building
2. great hardness, endurance, or resolution
3. See stone
   another name for a stone

granite

/ grăn′ĭt /

1. A usually light-colored, coarse-grained igneous rock consisting mostly of quartz, orthoclase feldspar, sodium-rich plagioclase feldspar, and micas. Quartz usually makes up 10 to 50 percent of the light-colored minerals in granite, with the remaining minerals consisting of the feldspars and muscovite. The darker minerals in granite are usually biotite and hornblende. Granite is one of the most common rocks in the crust of continents, and is formed by the slow, underground cooling of magma.

granite

1. A relatively lightweight igneous rock that makes up most of the Earth 's crust beneath the continents . ( See basalt , plate tectonics , and tectonic plates .)

Derived Forms

• granitic, adjective
• ˈgranite-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• gra·nit·ic [gr, uh, -, nit, -ik], adjective
• granite·like adjective
• pre·gra·nitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of granite¹

First recorded in 1640–50, granite is from the Italian word granito grainy. See grain, -ite ¹

Origin of granite²

From French

Word History and Origins

Origin of granite¹

C17: from Italian granito grained, from granire to grain, from grano grain, from Latin grānum

Example Sentences

There’s nothing for the snow to bond to except for itself and granite.

From Outside Online

To my back was an outrageous view of the Sphinx, a massive granite sentinel that towers ominously over the entire valley.

From Outside Online

Yosemite features some of the world’s tallest granite walls, a parade of thundering waterfalls, and colossal domes and peaks carved in part by the ferocious power of ancient glaciers and volcanoes.

From Outside Online

In summer and fall, rock climbers go to City of Rocks National Reserve in southern Idaho—about three hours north of Salt Lake City or ten-plus hours from Seattle—to scale the granite faces the park is known for.

From Outside Online

Most—though not all—activities involve finding ways to engage with it, whether that’s hiking along the coast, climbing the many pink granite cliffs, or kayaking or sailing to its offshore islands.

From Outside Online

After that granite band is filled in, there are seven more blank ones on the next block.

From The Daily Beast

Republican Scott Brown, the former Massachusetts senator now running in the Granite State, is the best conveyor of the message.

From The Daily Beast

He was told it had gone well, he said, and he has already received two more invitations to the Granite State.

From The Daily Beast

Two hours east of Dallas, sun-drenched granite cliffs loom high above the cloudy waters of Possum Kingdom Lake.

From The Daily Beast

The sand on its namesake beach turns gray as the sun dips behind the Two Brothers, twin granite spires at the far side of the bay.

From The Daily Beast

Why not have sought out the pure white lime-rocks of the flat country, or the grey granite of the hills?

From Project Gutenberg

On the opposite side of the stream, set back about thirty paces from the brink, stood a granite boulder.

From Project Gutenberg

The Piedmont also has a great variety of rocks, including granite and soapstone which are currently commercially important.

From Project Gutenberg

It is protected by a stupendous granite breakwater, costing many millions and affording a delightful promenade on a fine day.

From Project Gutenberg

The hills of Mount Upstart are of primitive form, and were judged to be composed of granite.

From Project Gutenberg