Muscovite

American  

[muhs-kuh-vahyt] / ˈmʌs kəˌvaɪt /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Moscow.

2. a native or inhabitant of the Grand Duchy of Muscovy.

3. Also called white mica.  (lowercase) common light-colored mica, essentially KAl 3 Si 3 O 1 0 (OH) 2 , used as an electrical insulator.

4. Archaic. a Russian.

---

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Moscow, Muscovy, or the Muscovites.

Muscovite ¹ British  

/ ˈmʌskəˌvaɪt /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Moscow

---

adjective

1. an archaic word for Russian

muscovite ² British  

/ ˈmʌskəˌvaɪt /

noun

1. a pale brown, or green, or colourless mineral of the mica group, found in plutonic rocks such as granite and in sedimentary rocks. It is used in the manufacture of lubricants, insulators, paints, and Christmas "snow". Composition: potassium aluminium silicate. Formula: KAl 2 (AlSi 3 )O 10 (OH) 2 . Crystal structure: monoclinic See also mica

---

muscovite Scientific  

/ mŭs′kə-vīt′ /

1. A usually colorless to yellow or pale-gray mica. Muscovite is a monoclinic mineral and is found in igneous rocks, such as granites and pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, such as schists and gneisses, and in many sedimentary rocks. Chemical formula: KAl ₂ (AlSi ₃ )O ₁₀ (OH) ₂ .

---

Etymology

Origin of Muscovite

First recorded in 1545–55; Muscov(y) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Despite nearly three years of war, life here can seem so normal: from the crowds of commuters on the Metro to the bars and clubs packed with young Muscovites.

From BBC

On Saturday, a makeshift memorial was set up outside the concert hall where Muscovites lit candles and laid flowers.

From BBC

The attack has punctured the sense of relative safety for Muscovites over the past decade, bringing back memories of attacks that shadowed life in the Russian capital in the 2000s.

From New York Times

Valery, another Muscovite at the cemetery, who withheld his last name for security reasons, said he had little hope for the future and that after Navalny’s death, that “something has really broken” inside of him.

From Seattle Times

“We express our support, wish them health, wish them to take care,” said David Davtyan, a Muscovite who attended.

From Seattle Times