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aphanite

[ af-uh-nahyt ]

noun

, Petrography.
  1. a fine-grained igneous rock having such compact texture that the constituent minerals cannot be detected with the naked eye.


aphanite

/ ˈæfəˌnaɪt /

noun

  1. any fine-grained rock, such as a basalt, containing minerals that cannot be distinguished with the naked eye
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • aph·a·nit·ic [af-, uh, -, nit, -ik], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of aphanite1

1860–65; < Greek aphan ( ḗs ) unseen, hidden, invisible ( a- a- 6 + phanēs, adj. derivative of phaínein to bring to light, disclose) + -ite 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of aphanite1

C19: from Greek aphanēs invisible
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Example Sentences

Resembling aphanite; having a very fineÐgrained structure.

The fine-grained compact greenstones are called aphanite.

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aphakiaaphanitic