serpentinize

especially British, ser·pen·tin·ise

[sur-puhn-tee-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

Mineralogy.

serpentinized, serpentinizing 

1. to convert (a mineral or rock) into serpentine.

Other Word Forms

• serpentinization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of serpentinize¹

First recorded in 1785–95; serpentine ² + -ize