graphite

American  

[graf-ahyt] / ˈgræf aɪt /

noun

1. a very common mineral, soft native carbon, occurring in black to dark-gray foliated masses, with metallic luster and greasy feel: used for pencil leads, as a lubricant, and for making crucibles and other refractories; plumbago; black lead.

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graphite British  

/ ˈɡræfaɪt, ɡrəˈfɪtɪk /

noun

1. Also called: plumbago.  a blackish soft allotropic form of carbon in hexagonal crystalline form: used in pencils, crucibles, and electrodes, as a lubricant, as a moderator in nuclear reactors, and, in a carbon fibre form, as a tough lightweight material for sporting equipment

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graphite Scientific  

/ grăf′īt′ /

1. A naturally occurring, steel-gray to black, crystalline form of carbon. The carbon atoms in graphite are strongly bonded together in sheets. Because the bonds between the sheets are weak, other atoms can easily fit between them, causing graphite to be soft and slippery to the touch. Graphite is used in pencils and paints and as a lubricant and electrode. It is also used to control chain reactions in nuclear reactors because of its ability to absorb neutrons.

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Other Word Forms

• graphitic adjective
• nongraphitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of graphite

1790–1800; < German Graphit < Greek gráph ( ein ) to write, draw + German -it -ite ¹

Explanation

Use the noun graphite when you're talking about the mineral that's used to make pencil lead. Graphite is a form of carbon that is most commonly found in pencils, although because it is a good conductor of electricity, it's also used in electrodes and batteries. Graphite can in fact be found in a wide variety of things, from a car's brake pads to industrial lubricants. The word graphite comes from the German Graphit, which was named by a mineralogist in 1789 from the Greek word graphein, "write."

Example Sentences

The two sides also signed a joint exploration agreement covering copper, gold, graphite and iron ore.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

It features 26 paintings, oil sketches and drawings, these last done in Conté crayon, a medium made from powdered graphite and carbon black that allowed deeper blacks and more expressive tonal contrasts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The method works with standard graphite electrodes as well as advanced materials such as silicon or SiOx, making it relevant for both current lithium-ion batteries and next-generation designs.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2026

A selection of about 100 examples in graphite and acrylic on paper comprises a survey of the prolific L.A. artist, drawn from the Huntington archive of his work.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2025

Everyone was shivering and covered with black graphite dust.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

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