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definitions

lithology

[li-thol-uh-jee]
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noun

Geology.
  1. (loosely) petrology.
  2. the physical characteristics of a rock or stratigraphic unit.
Medicine/Medical. the study of the formation, pathology, and treatment of stones in the human body.

Nearby words

  1. lithography,
  2. lithoid,
  3. lithol.,
  4. litholapaxy,
  5. lithologic,
  6. litholysis,
  7. litholytic,
  8. lithomarge,
  9. lithometeor,
  10. lithonephritis

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for lithology

British Dictionary definitions for lithology

lithology

noun

the physical characteristics of a rock, including colour, composition, and texture
the study of rocks
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

lithology

n.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Science definitions for lithology

lithology

[lĭ-thŏl′ə-jē]

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