schist

[ shist ]

/ ʃɪst /

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noun

any of a class of crystalline metamorphic rocks whose constituent mineral grains have a more or less parallel or foliated arrangement.

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Origin of schist

1775–85; <New Latin schistus,Latin (lapis) schistos<Greek schistós divided, curdled, divisible, derivative of schízein to split, with -tos adj. suffix

Words nearby schist

Schirra, schism, schismatic, schismatist, schismatize, schist, schisto-, schistocelia, schistocormia, schistocyte, schistocytosis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use schist in a sentence

Relieving the grey sheen of the gneiss were dark bands of schist which tracked about in an irregular manner.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
The rock was a highly quartzose gneiss, with black bands of schist running through it.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
Schist prevails over a considerable area, and is prolonged to the very extremity of the peninsula.
The Desert World|Arthur Mangin
Solid rock is not to be seen, but all the detritus consists of granite and green schist.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin

We rode north-westwards past two small lakes, and again fell in with solid rock—green and black schist.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin

British Dictionary definitions for schist

schist

/ (ʃɪst) /

noun

any metamorphic rock that can be split into thin layers because its micaceous minerals have become aligned in thin parallel bands

Derived forms of schist

schistose, adjectiveschistosity (ʃɪˈstɒsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for schist

C18: from French schiste, from Latin lapis schistos stone that may be split, from Greek skhizein to split

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 schist

schist

[ shĭst ]

A highly foliated, medium-grained metamorphic rock that splits easily into flakes or slabs along well-defined planes of mica. The mineral composition of schist is varied and is often reflected in the name given to the rock. For example, a schist that contains garnet is called a garnet schist. A schist containing chlorite is called a chlorite schist.

Other words from schist

schistose adjective (shĭs′tōs′)