regolith

[ reg-uh-lith ]

noun

1. mantle rock.

regolith

/ ˈrɛɡəlɪθ /

noun

1. the layer of loose material covering the bedrock of the earth and moon, etc, comprising soil, sand, rock fragments, volcanic ash, glacial drift, etc

regolith

/ rĕg′ə-lĭth′ /

1. The layer of rock and mineral fragments that rests on bedrock and is produced by the weathering of rocks. Regolith constitutes the surface of most land.

Word History and Origins

Origin of regolith¹

1895–1900; < Greek rhêgo ( s ) rug, blanket + -lith

Word History and Origins

Origin of regolith¹

C20: from Greek rhēgos covering, blanket + lithos stone

Example Sentences

One of the largest challenges for lunar seismology is the porous and fractured blanket of rubble called regolith that covers the surface of the Moon.

From Science Daily

Working with their industry partner, Thales Alenia Space in the UK, who has specific interest in creating working robotic systems for space applications, the team investigated a virtual version of regolith, another name for Moon dust.

From Science Daily

Lunar regolith is of particular interest for the upcoming Lunar exploration missions planned over the next decade.

From Science Daily

To collect regolith, remotely operated robots emerge as a practical choice due to their lower risks and costs compared to human spaceflight.

From Science Daily

The Bristol team's aims were to, firstly, extend the model so it can handle more regolith, while staying lightweight enough to run in real-time, and then to verify it experimentally.

From Science Daily