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lithology

[li-thol-uh-jee]
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noun
  1. Geology.
    1. (loosely) petrology.
    2. the physical characteristics of a rock or stratigraphic unit.
  2. Medicine/Medical. the study of the formation, pathology, and treatment of stones in the human body.
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Origin of lithology

First recorded in 1710–20; litho- + -logy
Related formslith·o·log·ic [lith-uh-loj-ik] /ˌlɪθ əˈlɒdʒ ɪk/, lith·o·log·i·cal, adjectivelith·o·log·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for lithology

Historical Examples

  • The second year's work with lithology is carried on largely in the same way as with mineralogy.

    Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, September 1899

    Various

  • It is nearly impossible to provide so abundantly, however, as for mineralogy and lithology.

  • His observations on the lithology of the deposits accumulated beneath the sea were of special interest and importance.

  • We might say that a 'young lady, eminent for great skill in lithology, famed as the discoverer,' etc.

    Erema

    R. D. Blackmore

  • Stone, as in lithology, the branch of medical science, relating to calculi or concretions.

British Dictionary definitions for lithology

lithology

noun
  1. the physical characteristics of a rock, including colour, composition, and texture
  2. the study of rocks
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Derived Formslithologic (ˌlɪθəˈlɒdʒɪk) or lithological, adjectivelithologically, adverblithologist, noun
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

Word Origin and History for lithology

n.

study of rock-formation, 1716, from Modern Latin lithologia, from litho- + -logia (see -logy).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
lithology in Science

lithology

[lĭ-thŏl′ə-jē]
  1. The scientific study and description of rocks, especially at the macroscopic level, in terms of their color, texture, and composition.
  2. The gross physical character of a rock or rock formation.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.