nephrite

[ nef-rahyt ]
/ ˈnɛf raɪt /

noun

Mineralogy. a compact or fibrous variety of actinolite, varying from whitish to dark green: a form of jade.

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Origin of nephrite

From the German word Nephrit, dating back to 1785–95. See nephr-, -ite1

Words nearby nephrite

nephrectomize, nephrectomy, nephrelcosis, nephric, nephridium, nephrite, nephritic, nephritic syndrome, nephritis, nephritogenic, nephro-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for nephrite

British Dictionary definitions for nephrite

nephrite
/ (ˈnɛfraɪt) /

noun

a tough fibrous amphibole mineral: a variety of jade consisting of calcium magnesium silicate in monoclinic crystalline form. Formula: Ca 2 Mg 5 Si 8 O 22 (OH) 2Also called: kidney stone

Word Origin for nephrite

C18: via German Nephrit from Greek nephrós kidney, so called because it was thought to be beneficial in kidney disorders
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 nephrite

nephrite
[ nĕf′rīt′ ]

A green to blue variety of jade. Nephrite is an amphibole and is the least precious form of jade. Chemical formula: Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.