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regolith

American  
[reg-uh-lith] / ˈrɛg ə lɪθ /

noun

  1. mantle rock.


regolith British  
/ ˈrɛɡəlɪθ /

noun

  1. the layer of loose material covering the bedrock of the earth and moon, etc, comprising soil, sand, rock fragments, volcanic ash, glacial drift, etc

"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

regolith Scientific  
/ rĕgə-lĭth′ /
  1. The layer of rock and mineral fragments that rests on bedrock and is produced by the weathering of rocks. Regolith constitutes the surface of most land.


Etymology

Origin of regolith

1895–1900; < Greek rhêgo ( s ) rug, blanket + -lith

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lunar regolith is the scientific name for the dusty material that covers the Moon's surface.

From Science Daily

Although regolith includes minerals and nutrients that plants can use, it also contains heavy metals that may harm plant development.

From Science Daily

"How do we transform this regolith into soil? What kinds of natural mechanisms can cause this conversion?"

From Science Daily

In return, Sporosarcina secretes natural polymers that support mineral formation and help bind regolith.

From Science Daily

The long term vision is to combine this bacterial co culture with Martian regolith and use it as feedstock for 3D printing on Mars.

From Science Daily