lithophile

American

[lith-uh-fahyl] / ˈlɪθ əˌfaɪl /

adjective

(of a chemical element) concentrated in the earth's crust, rather than in the core or mantle.

noun

a lithophile element.

Etymology

Origin of lithophile

First recorded in 1920–25; litho- + -phile

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

lithophile

This indicates that the depletion of halogens relative to primitive meteorites is consistent with lithophile elements of similar volatility.

From Nature ● Nov. 28, 2017

Our results demonstrate that the halogen depletion of bulk silicate Earth relative to primitive meteorites is consistent with the depletion of lithophile elements of similar volatility.

From Nature ● Nov. 28, 2017

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023