mica

American  

[mahy-kuh] / ˈmaɪ kə /

noun

1. any member of a group of minerals, hydrous silicates of aluminum with other bases, chiefly potassium, magnesium, iron, and lithium, that separate readily into thin, tough, often transparent, and usually elastic laminae; isinglass.

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mica British  

/ maɪˈkeɪʃəs, ˈmaɪkə /

noun

1. any of a group of lustrous rock-forming minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminium, potassium, etc, in monoclinic crystalline form, occurring in igneous and metamorphic rock. Because of their resistance to electricity and heat they are used as dielectrics, in heating elements, etc

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mica Scientific  

/ mī′kə /

1. Any of a group of hydrous aluminosilicate minerals with the general formula (K,Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Li,Al) _2–3 (Al,Si) ₄ O ₁₀ (OH,F) ₂ that can be split easily into thin, partly transparent sheets. Mica is common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and often occurs as flakes or sheets. It is highly resistant to heat and is used in electric fuses and other electrical equipment. Muscovite and biotite are types of mica

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Other Word Forms

• micaceous adjective
• micalike adjective

Etymology

Origin of mica

First recorded in 1700–10, mica is from the Latin word mīca crumb, morsel, grain

Example Sentences

A hard-edged 1928 coffee table may be made of oak, but it’s covered in shimmering mica.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Black Barn Apiary’s Luxe Gold Honey is infused with edible gold mica and made on 20 acres of restored native prairie land in Wisconsin.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

In November 2021, the Irish government introduced what it said was a significant number of improvements to a previous scheme for mica homeowners.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2024

Others used plaster casts of the that statue, and one was made out of Greek marble containing mica, according to the Tate Gallery, which owns one of the pieces.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 12, 2023

We discovered large sheets of mica that you could pound into powder and then rub all over your body so you’d shimmer under the Nevada sun as if you were coated with diamonds.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls