any of a group of deposits consisting of residual insoluble deposits of ferric and aluminium oxides: formed by weathering of rocks in tropical regions
Derived forms
lateritic (ˌlætəˈrɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Latin later brick, tile
laterite in American English
(ˈlætərˌaɪt)
noun
Geology
a red, residual soil containing large amounts of aluminum and ferric hydroxides, formed by the decomposition of many kinds of rocks, and found esp. in well-drained tropical rain forests
Derived forms
lateritic (ˌlaterˈitic) (ˈlætərˈɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
L later, brick, tile (prob. akin to latus, broad: see lateral) + -ite1