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hydroxyapatite

American  
[hahy-drok-see-ap-uh-tahyt] / haɪˌdrɒk siˈæp əˌtaɪt /

noun

  1. a mineral, Ca 10 (PO4 ) 6 OH 2 , that is the principal storage form of calcium and phosphorus in bone.


Etymology

Origin of hydroxyapatite

First recorded in 1910–15; hydroxy- + apatite


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.

See Examples For:

Their work began with an artificial bone framework made of hydroxyapatite, a natural mineral found in teeth and bones.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 20, 2025

The more hydroxyapatite crystals detected, the healthier the bones are.

From Salon ● May 1, 2024

Previous analyses of the adhesive found inorganic materials similar to cement, and hydroxyapatite, a mineral obtained from ground teeth and bones.

From Science Magazine ● May 20, 2022

These salt crystals form when calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate combine to create hydroxyapatite, which incorporates other inorganic salts like magnesium hydroxide, fluoride, and sulfate as it crystallizes, or calcifies, on the collagen fibers.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Metal pegs to you, but very special metal pegs, developed by a team from University College London, and coated with hydroxyapatite, which encourages bone cells to grow on to the metal.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 1, 2010

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