sylvite

[ sil-vahyt ]

noun
  1. a common mineral, potassium chloride, KCl, colorless to milky-white or red, occurring in crystals, usually cubes, and masses with cubic cleavage, bitter in taste: the most important source of potassium.

Origin of sylvite

1
1965–70; <Latin (sal digestīvus) Sylvi(ī) digestive salt of Sylvius (see Sylvian fissure) + -ite1; replacing sylvine<French
  • Also syl·vin, syl·vine [sil-vin]. /ˈsɪl vɪn/.

Words Nearby sylvite

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British Dictionary definitions for sylvite

sylvite

sylvine (ˈsɪlviːn)

/ (ˈsɪlvaɪt) /


noun
  1. a soluble colourless, white, or coloured mineral consisting of potassium chloride in cubic crystalline form with sodium impurities: it occurs chiefly in sedimentary beds and is an important ore of potassium. Formula: KCl

Origin of sylvite

1
C19: sylvite, alteration of sylvine, from New Latin sal digestiva Sylvii digestive salt of Sylvius, after Franciscus Sylvius (died 1672), German anatomist. See -ite 1, -ine ²

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