Langimage
English

calcite

|cal/cite|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈkælˌsaɪt/

🇬🇧

/ˈkæl.saɪt/

crystalline calcium carbonate

Etymology
Etymology Information

'calcite' originates from the German word 'Calcit', which is derived from the Latin word 'calx', meaning 'lime'.

Historical Evolution

'Calx' transformed into the German word 'Calcit', and eventually became the modern English word 'calcite'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to 'lime', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a crystalline form of calcium carbonate'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a common crystalline form of natural calcium carbonate, CaCO₃, found in limestone, marble, and chalk.

The stalactites in the cave are made of calcite.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/03/03 18:21