phosphorite

[ fos-fuh-rahyt ]

/ ˈfɒs fəˌraɪt /

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noun

a sedimentary rock sufficiently rich in phosphate minerals to be used as a source of phosphorus for fertilizers.

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Origin of phosphorite

First recorded in 1790–1800; phosphor- + -ite¹

OTHER WORDS FROM phosphorite

phos·pho·rit·ic

[fos-fuh-rit-ik], /ˌfɒs fəˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby phosphorite

phosphoreted, phosphoric, phosphoric acid, phosphoric anhydride, phosphorism, phosphorite, phosphorize, phosphoro-, phosphoroscope, phosphorous, phosphorous acid

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

How to use phosphorite in a sentence

Phosphorite is another name for apatite, but is chiefly applied to impure amorphous apatite.
Manures and the principles of manuring|Charles Morton Aikman
We have already referred in Chapter V. to large deposits of apatite or phosphorite found in Canada.
Manures and the principles of manuring|Charles Morton Aikman

British Dictionary definitions for phosphorite

phosphorite

/ (ˈfɒsfəˌraɪt) /

noun

a fibrous variety of the mineral apatite

any of various mineral deposits that consist mainly of calcium phosphate

Derived forms of phosphorite

phosphoritic (ˌfɒsfəˈrɪtɪk), adjective

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