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witherite

[with -uh-rahyt]
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noun
  1. a white to grayish mineral, barium carbonate, BaCO3, occurring in crystals and masses: a minor ore of barium.
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Origin of witherite

1785–95; named after W. Withering (1741–99), who first described it; see -ite1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for witherite

Historical Examples

  • Witherite, the barium carbonate, is a much rarer mineral but is found with barite in some veins.

    The Economic Aspect of Geology

    C. K. Leith

British Dictionary definitions for witherite

witherite

noun
  1. a white, grey, or yellowish mineral consisting of barium carbonate in orthorhombic crystalline form: occurs in veins of lead ore. Formula: BaCO 3
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Word Origin

C18: named after W. Withering (1741–99), English scientist, who first described it
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