mineral

[ min-er-uhl, min-ruhl ]

/ ˈmɪn ər əl, ˈmɪn rəl /

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noun

any of a class of substances occurring in nature, usually comprising inorganic substances, as quartz or feldspar, of definite chemical composition and usually of definite crystal structure, but sometimes also including rocks formed by these substances as well as certain natural products of organic origin, as asphalt or coal.

a substance obtained by mining, as ore.

(loosely) any substance that is neither animal nor vegetable.

minerals, British. mineral water.

Nutrition. any of the inorganic elements, as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, or sodium, that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods.

adjective

of the nature of a mineral; pertaining to a mineral or minerals.

containing or impregnated with a mineral or minerals.

neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic: mineral matter.

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Origin of mineral

1375–1425; late Middle English <Middle French, Old French mineral<Medieval Latin minerāle (noun), minerālis (adj.), equivalent to miner(a) mine, ore (<Old French miniere<Vulgar Latin *mināria; min- (see mine²) + Latin -āria-ary) + -āle, -ālis-al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM mineral

non·min·er·al, noun, adjectivesem·i·min·er·al, adjective

Words nearby mineral

minefield, minehunter, minelayer, Mineola, miner, mineral, mineral charcoal, mineralize, mineralizer, mineral jelly, mineral kingdom

Other definitions for mineral (2 of 2)

mineral.

abbreviation

mineralogical.

mineralogy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mineral in a sentence

Clay-like minerals often associated with organic matter on Earth have been found on Europa, raising even more hopes that we might be able to detect ongoing biological activity on the Jovian moon.
The 5 best places to explore in the solar system—besides Mars|Neel Patel|August 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
That suggested the material was biological, not made solely of minerals.
Early dinosaurs may have laid soft-shelled eggs|Jack J. Lee|August 3, 2020|Science News For Students
SuperCam will shoot rocks with a laser from more than seven meters away, vaporizing a tiny bit of the minerals.
NASA’s Perseverance rover will seek signs of past life on Mars|Lisa Grossman|July 28, 2020|Science News
We took it to the lab and examined it under the cleanest conditions, using a scanning electron microscope to look at cells and minerals, and an atomic force microscope to examine cells at the atomic level.
He Found ‘Islands of Fertility’ Beneath Antarctica’s Ice|Steve Nadis|July 20, 2020|Quanta Magazine

They also analyze what essential minerals the body is losing in that sweat.
Sweat tech alerts athletes when to rehydrate — and with what|Silke Schmidt|May 21, 2020|Science News For Students
Depending on the producer, Champagne can also be highly cloyingly sweet, buttery, or round, or mineral.
Champagne: You’re Drinking It All Wrong|Kayleigh Kulp|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For example, a common type of meteorite has similar mineral content to Earth, but a lot less deuterium.
Are Comets the Origin of Earth’s Oceans?|Matthew R. Francis|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One more word about the mineral water industry in Marlin, Texas, and I was about to scream.
Slaves In A Family's Past Haunt The Present|Michael Signer|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He enters a back room, sits at a round café table and sips from a bottle of mineral water.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou|John Ed Bradley|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mining and Mineral Engineering: 90% male And here are the 10 least remunerative majors—where women prevail in nine out of ten: 1.
No, Women Don’t Make Less Money Than Men|Christina Hoff Sommers|February 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The essential point in which it differs from any other known mineral consists in its being at once fibrous and textile.
Asbestos|Robert H. Jones
Certainly some of the uses to which this mineral is now being put are sufficiently astonishing.
Asbestos|Robert H. Jones
About 1830 a miner, returned from South America, made a claim for wages for watching mineral left behind by Mr. Trevithick.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
In these of the cereals it constitutes nearly half of their whole mineral components, and it rarely falls below 30 per cent.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
In addition to these mineral substances, organic matters are also removed from solution.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for mineral (1 of 2)

mineral

/ (ˈmɪnərəl, ˈmɪnrəl) /

noun

any of a class of naturally occurring solid inorganic substances with a characteristic crystalline form and a homogeneous chemical composition

any inorganic matter

any substance obtained by mining, esp a metal ore

(often plural) British short for mineral water

British a soft drink containing carbonated water and flavouringsUsual US word: soda

adjective

of, relating to, containing, or resembling minerals

Word Origin for mineral

C15: from Medieval Latin minerāle (n), from minerālis (adj); related to minera mine, ore, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for mineral (2 of 2)

mineral.

abbreviation for

mineralogy or mineralogical

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

Scientific definitions for mineral

mineral

[ mĭn′ər-əl ]

A naturally occurring, solid, inorganic element or compound having a uniform composition and a regularly repeating internal structure. Minerals typically have a characteristic hardness and color, or range of colors, by which they can be recognized. Rocks are made up of minerals.

A natural substance of commercial value, such as iron ore, coal, or petroleum, that is obtained by mining, quarrying, or drilling.

Cultural definitions for mineral

mineral

In geology, a naturally occurring inorganic substance (see inorganic molecules) with a definite chemical composition and a regular internal structure.

notes for mineral

Most minerals are crystals, like salt and diamonds.

notes for mineral

Rocks are aggregates of minerals.

mineral

Origin of mineral

OTHER WORDS FROM mineral

Words nearby mineral

Other definitions for mineral (2 of 2)

Words related to mineral

How to use mineral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mineral (1 of 2)

Word Origin for mineral

British Dictionary definitions for mineral (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for mineral

Cultural definitions for mineral

notes for mineral

notes for mineral