Definition of BASALT

basalt

Plural: basalts

Noun

  • the commonest type of solidified lava; a dense dark grey fine-grained igneous rock that is composed chiefly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene
  • A hard mafic igneous rock of varied mineral content; volcanic in origin, which makes up much of the Earth's oceanic crust.
  • A type of unglazed pottery.
  • pl. -S a volcanic rock BASALTIC adj

Origin / Etymology

From Late Latin basaltes, a misspelling of Latin basanites, from Ancient Greek βασανίτης (basanítēs), from βάσανος (básanos, “touchstone”), from Egyptian bḫn (“a hard stone”), b-x:n-O39

Scrabble Score: 8

basalt: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
basalt: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
basalt: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

basalt is a valid Words With Friends word