oolith

[ oh-uh-lith ]

nounGeology.
  1. any of the component concretions of a piece of oolite.

Origin of oolith

1
First recorded in 1780–90; oo- + -lith

Words Nearby oolith

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British Dictionary definitions for oolith

oolith

/ (ˈəʊəˌlɪθ) /


noun
  1. any of the tiny spherical grains of sedimentary rock of which oolite is composed

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Scientific definitions for oolith

oolith

[ ōə-līt′ ]


  1. A small, round grain consisting of calcium carbonate, silica, or dolomite. Ooliths have concentric layers that form around a nucleus, such as a shell fragment, a sand grain, or a pellet of alga. They typically have diameters of 0.25 to 2 mm. Ooliths usually form by inorganic precipitation.

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