Mineral
Mineral , noun
[French minéral, Late Latin minerale, from minera mine. See Mine, v. i.]
1.
An inorganic species or substance occurring in nature, having a definite chemical composition and usually a distinct crystalline form. Rocks, except certain glassy igneous forms, are either simple minerals or aggregates of minerals.
2.
A mine. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
3.
Anything which is neither animal nor vegetable, as in the most general classification of things into three kingdoms (animal, vegetable, and mineral).
Mineral , adjective
1.
Of or pertaining to minerals; consisting of a mineral or of minerals; as, a mineral substance.
2.
Impregnated with minerals; as, mineral waters.
Collocations (18)
Mineral acids (Chemistry) , inorganic acids, as sulphuric, nitric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, acids, etc., as distinguished from the organic acids.
Mineral blue , the name usually given to azurite, when reduced to an impalpable powder for coloring purposes.
Mineral candle , a candle made of paraffin.
Mineral caoutchouc , an elastic mineral pitch, a variety of bitumen, resembling caoutchouc in elasticity and softness. See Caoutchouc, and Elaterite.
Mineral charcoal , See under Charcoal.
Mineral cotton , See Mineral wool (below).
Mineral green , a green carbonate of copper; malachite.
Mineral kingdom (Nat. Sci.) , that one of the three grand divisions of nature which embraces all inorganic objects, as distinguished from plants or animals.
Mineral paint , a pigment made chiefly of some natural mineral substance, as red or yellow iron ocher.
Mineral right , the right of taking minerals from land.
Mineral salt (Chemistry) , a salt of a mineral acid.
Mineral tallow , a familiar name for hatchettite, from its fatty or spermaceti-like appearance.
Mineral water , See under Water.
Mineral wax , See Ozocerite.
Mineral wool , a fibrous wool-like material, made by blowing a powerful jet of air or steam through melted slag. It is a poor conductor of heat.