granite

¹

[ gran-it ]

noun

1. a coarse-grained igneous rock composed chiefly of orthoclase and albite feldspars and of quartz, usually with lesser amounts of one or more other minerals, as mica, hornblende, or augite.
2. anything compared to this rock in great hardness, firmness, or durability.

granité

²

[ gran-i-tey, grah-ni-; French gra-nee-tey ]

noun

, French Cooking.

1. ice ( def 4 ).

granite

/ ɡrəˈnɪtɪk; ˈɡrænɪt /

noun

1. a light-coloured coarse-grained acid plutonic igneous rock consisting of quartz, feldspars, and such ferromagnesian minerals as biotite or hornblende: widely used for building
2. great hardness, endurance, or resolution
3. another name for a stone

granite

/ grăn′ĭt /

1. A usually light-colored, coarse-grained igneous rock consisting mostly of quartz, orthoclase feldspar, sodium-rich plagioclase feldspar, and micas. Quartz usually makes up 10 to 50 percent of the light-colored minerals in granite, with the remaining minerals consisting of the feldspars and muscovite. The darker minerals in granite are usually biotite and hornblende. Granite is one of the most common rocks in the crust of continents, and is formed by the slow, underground cooling of magma.

granite

1. A relatively lightweight igneous rock that makes up most of the Earth 's crust beneath the continents . ( See basalt , plate tectonics , and tectonic plates .)

Derived Forms

• granitic, adjective
• ˈgranite-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• gra·nit·ic [gr, uh, -, nit, -ik], adjective
• granite·like adjective
• pre·gra·nitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of granite¹

First recorded in 1640–50, granite is from the Italian word granito grainy. See grain, -ite ¹

Origin of granite²

From French

Word History and Origins

Origin of granite¹

C17: from Italian granito grained, from granire to grain, from grano grain, from Latin grānum

Example Sentences

For a rare, if not lucky, few days a year, Yosemite National Park’s famed El Capitan granite cliff converts into what looks like an active volcano jutting 3,000 feet above the valley floor.

From Los Angeles Times

"The pink granite on Gabo is very hard compared to other Australian granite," Sandy explained.

From BBC

Its hulking form and heavy materials — oceans of granite, limestone and concrete — created an intimidating place that stood for strength, power and winning.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the gleaming multimillion-dollar mansions nestled among towering pine trees and granite peaks in this exclusive mountain enclave?

From Los Angeles Times

An entry on the Tower Bridge website said following the sale, each of London Bridge’s 10,276 exterior granite blocks were numbered and then shipped to the US.

From BBC