laterite

[ lat-uh-rahyt ]

/ ˈlæt əˌraɪt /

noun Geology.

a reddish ferruginous soil formed in tropical regions by the decomposition of the underlying rocks.

a similar soil formed of materials deposited by water.

any soil produced by the decomposition of the rocks beneath it.

Nearby words

laterally, lateran, lateran council, lateran palace, laterigrade, laterite, lateritic, lateritious, laterization, latero-, laterodeviation

Origin of laterite

1800–10; < Latin later brick, tile + -ite¹

Related formslat·er·it·ic

[lat-uh-rit-ik] /ˌlæt əˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for laterite

It contains a large ruined tank with laterite steps, and a number of tombs of wealthy Jain merchants.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
The clay called cabook in Ceylon is essentially a variety of laterite.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 2|Various
Laterite, lat′ėr-īt, n. an argillaceous sandstone of a reddish or brick colour found in India, esp.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)|Various
Several of them are elaborate buildings with massive stone roofs, and are surrounded by laterite enclosures.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Edgar Thurston

The surrounding country is formed of laterite rock which decomposes readily and forms a fine reddish silt in the tanks.
Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa|Nelson Annandale

British Dictionary definitions for laterite

laterite

/ (ˈlætəˌraɪt) /

noun

any of a group of deposits consisting of residual insoluble deposits of ferric and aluminium oxides: formed by weathering of rocks in tropical regions

Derived Formslateritic (ˌlætəˈrɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for laterite

C19: from Latin later brick, tile

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

Science definitions for laterite

laterite

[ lăt′ə-rīt′ ]

A red, porous, claylike soil formed by the leaching of silica-rich components and enrichment of aluminum and iron hydroxides. They are especially common in humid climates. Laterites that are poor in iron oxides and rich in aluminum oxides are called bauxites. Also called latosol See more at bauxite.