hypersthene

[ hahy-pers-theen ]

/ ˈhaɪ pərsˌθin /

noun Mineralogy.

a dark iron magnesium silicate, an orthorhombic pyroxene containing more than 14 percent ferrous oxide.

Nearby words

hypersonic, hyperspace, hypersphere, hypersplenism, hyperstatic, hypersthene, hypersthenia, hypersthenuria, hypersurface, hypersusceptible, hypertelorism

Compare bronzite, enstatite.

Origin of hypersthene

1800–10; hyper- + Greek sthénos strength, might; replacing hyperstene < French hyperstène

Related formshy·per·sthen·ic

[hahy-pers-then-ik] /ˌhaɪ pərsˈθɛn ɪk/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hypersthene

Some contain biotite, others augite or hypersthene; many have a small amount of quartz.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5|Various
Hypersthene is not the prevailing pyroxene, and olivine is usually present, often in such abundance as to make the rock a basalt.
Mount Rainier|Various
On Crater Peak, and below on Gibraltar, hypersthene andesite occurs with considerable variation of color and texture.
Mount Rainier|Various
Green augite and hypersthene form a considerable part of these rocks, they may contain also biotite, hornblende and quartz.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3|Various

Hypersthene (or bronzite) is characteristic of another group.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for hypersthene

hypersthene

/ (ˈhaɪpəˌsθiːn) /

noun

a green, brown, or black pyroxene mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form. Formula: (Mg,Fe) 2 Si 2 O 6

Derived Formshypersthenic (ˌhaɪpəˈsθɛnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for hypersthene

C19: from hyper- + Greek sthenos strength

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