laterite

[lat-uh-rahyt]

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.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for laterite

Historical Examples of laterite

On the top of these tables are here and there little conical elevations of laterite, or indurated iron clay.
Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official
William Sleeman
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
Several of them are elaborate buildings with massive stone roofs, and are surrounded by laterite enclosures.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India
Edgar Thurston
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
This grass grows in open somewhat dry loamy and laterite soils in the East Coast districts.
A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses
Rai Bahadur K. Ranga Achariyar

British Dictionary definitions for laterite

laterite

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

laterite in Science

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.