perlite

or pearl·ite

[ pur-lahyt ]

/ ˈpɜr laɪt /

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noun Petrography.

a volcanic glass in which concentric fractures impart a distinctive structure resembling masses of small spheroids, used as a plant growth medium.

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Origin of perlite

From French, dating back to 1825–35; see origin at pearl, -ite¹

OTHER WORDS FROM perlite

per·lit·ic

[pur-lit-ik], /pɜrˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby perlite

Perl, perle, Perlea, perlemoen, Perlis, perlite, Perlman, perlocution, perlocutionary, perlucidus, perm

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

How to use perlite in a sentence

Volcanic rock like perlite and pumice keep the soil from packing together.
Quick and dirty tips to make sure your plants love the soil they’re in|Ellen Airhart|October 7, 2021|Popular-Science
"He ain't jest what you'd call perlite," thought Mr. Klegg, as he meditatively chewed for a little while longer.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy
Yit I'll not deny that it's easy to be perlite to old Uncle Prince, bekaze he's mighty perlite hisself.
Free Joe and Other Georgian Sketches|Joel Chandler Harris
Much obleeged to him for being so perlite in showing me round.
Airship Andy|Frank V. Webster

And he had been "so perlite as to ask me how was Grandmother Gano."
The Open Question|Elizabeth Robins
But this un isn't thet koind of a man, an' he's so moighty perlite about it Oi jist cud n't sind the loikes of him away.
Bob Hampton of Placer|Randall Parrish

British Dictionary definitions for perlite

perlite

pearlite

/ (ˈpɜːlaɪt) /

noun

a variety of obsidian consisting of masses of small pearly globules: used as a filler, insulator, and soil conditioner

Derived forms of perlite

perlitic or pearlitic (pɜːˈlɪtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for perlite

C19: from French, from perle pearl 1

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