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variolite

American  
[vair-ee-uh-lahyt, var-] / ˈvɛər i əˌlaɪt, ˈvær- /

noun

Petrology.

  1. a rock embedded with varioles; a variolitic rock.

variolite British  
/ ˈvɛərɪəˌlaɪt, ˌvɛərɪəˈlɪtɪk /

noun

  1. any basic igneous rock containing rounded bodies (varioles) consisting of radiating crystal fibres

"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

Other Word Forms

  • variolitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of variolite

First recorded in 1780–85; probably from New Latin variolītēs, from Medieval Latin variola variola ( def. ) + -ītēs noun suffix; see -ite 1 ( def. )

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.

Variolit′ic, pertaining to variolite; Vā′rioloid, resembling smallpox: resembling measles.—n. modified smallpox.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.