silicate

[ sil-i-kit, -keyt ]

noun

1. Mineralogy. any of the largest group of mineral compounds, as quartz, beryl, garnet, feldspar, mica, and various kinds of clay, consisting of SiO 2 or SiO 4 groupings and one or more metallic ions, with some forms containing hydrogen. Silicates constitute well over 90 percent of the rock-forming minerals of the earth's crust.
2. Chemistry. any salt derived from the silicic acids or from silica.

silicate

/ ˈsɪlɪkɪt; -ˌkeɪt /

noun

1. a salt or ester of silicic acid, esp one of a large number of usually insoluble salts with polymeric negative ions having a structure formed of tetrahedrons of SiO 4 groups linked in rings, chains, sheets, or three dimensional frameworks. Silicates constitute a large proportion of the earth's minerals and are present in cement and glass

silicate

/ sĭl′ĭ-kāt′ /

1. Any of a large class of chemical compounds composed of silicon, oxygen, and at least one metal. Most rocks and minerals are silicates.
2. Any mineral containing the group SiO 4 , either isolated, or joined to other groups in chains, sheets, or three-dimensional groups with metal elements. Micas and feldspars are silicate minerals.

Other Words From

• sil·i·ca·tion [sil-i-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• non·sili·cate noun
• sub·sili·cate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of silicate¹

First recorded in 1805–15; silic(a) + -ate ²

Example Sentences

Inside the diamond is a newly identified silicate mineral dubbed davemaoite that can only have formed in Earth’s lower mantle, researchers report November 12 in Science.

From Science News

The rock was made of common silicates like other asteroids, but they were common only in their general composition, not in their infrared signature, which remained stubbornly off.

From Time

We had been developing techniques to identify individual millimeter-size silicate crystals that contain only very small iron grains and have ideal recording properties.

From Singularity Hub 

A number of scientists and nonprofits have also researched the possibility of accelerating the processes by which various minerals—particularly those rich in silicate, calcium, and magnesium—pull carbon dioxide out of air or rainwater.

From MIT Technology Review

Our Goldilocks climate largely results from chemical reactions between carbon dioxide in the air and silicate minerals, which slowly reduces the level of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere by burying it in sediments.

From Quanta Magazine

In this case, silicate in the ash melts as it hits the hot turbines of the engine and shuts it down.

From The Daily Beast

He seemed to recall a state of lush, sybaritic softness, in pre-silicate times.

From Project Gutenberg

But there is no reason why, in these cases, the lead so employed should not be in the form of a fritted double silicate.

From Project Gutenberg

Soda-glass consists primarily of silicate of sodium with smaller quantities of silicate of aluminum and potassium.

From Project Gutenberg

A good method for the preservation of eggs is the use of sodium silicate, or water glass.

From Project Gutenberg

The well-known water-glass is a silicate of soda or potash dissolved in free or caustic soda, or potash.

From Project Gutenberg