mineral.

¹ American  

abbreviation

1. mineralogical.

2. mineralogy.

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mineral ² American  

[min-er-uhl, min-ruhl] / ˈmɪn ər əl, ˈmɪn rəl /

noun

1. 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.

2. a substance obtained by mining, as ore.

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

4. British. minerals, mineral water.

5. 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.

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adjective

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

2. containing or impregnated with a mineral or minerals.

3. neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic.

   mineral matter.

mineral ¹ British  

/ ˈmɪnərəl, ˈmɪnrəl /

noun

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

2. any inorganic matter

3. any substance obtained by mining, esp a metal ore

4. (often plural) short for mineral water

5. Usual US word: soda.  a soft drink containing carbonated water and flavourings

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adjective

1. of, relating to, containing, or resembling minerals

mineral. ² British  

abbreviation

1. mineralogy or mineralogical

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mineral Scientific  

/ mĭn′ər-əl /

1. 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.

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

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mineral Cultural  

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

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Discover More

Rocks are aggregates of minerals.

Most minerals are crystals, like salt and diamonds.

Other Word Forms

• nonmineral noun
• semimineral adjective

Etymology

Origin of mineral

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, Old French mineral, from Medieval Latin minerāle (noun), minerālis (adjective), from miner(a) “mine, ore,” (from Vulgar Latin mināria (unrecorded); equivalent to mine ² + -ary ) + -āle, -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Reprisals have included squeezing Japanese companies’ access to critical minerals and magnets that are essential to manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Imports from Malaysia amounted to $12.54 billion, mainly minerals, vegetable oil and electrical machinery and equipment.

From Barron's

Firms have put up with those drawbacks for access to South Africa’s deep seam of mineral wealth and its growing consumer market.

From The Wall Street Journal

“These challenges are exacerbated by heightened geopolitical risks, especially in a world where critical minerals have become a top priority national security concern for the U.S., China and other regions.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Rock formations and mineral deposits served as stand-ins for a climate record, allowing the team to infer past conditions.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• earth
• gravel
• lava
• metal
• rubble
• slab