granite
/ˈɡranɪt
/noun [mass noun]
A very hard, granular, crystalline, igneous rock consisting mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and often used as a building stone: [as modifier]: granite columns figurative a man with granite determination...
- Finally the hardest stones such as granite and porphyry require the most tempered steel tools.
- The views from these heights are simply stunning, with glacial ice fields and granite peaks as far as the eye can see.
- Pine units are fitted at ground and eye-level, topped by granite worktops and a tiled splashback.
Derivatives
granitic
/ adjective ...- It has also been found as a constituent of granites and in granitic pegmatites.
- In contrast, granitic pegmatites are found in the Zomba Mountain and Malosa Mountain.
- A common misconception is that a pegmatite is granitic in composition.
granitoid
/ adjective & noun ...- These granitoids clearly belong to the magnetite-bearing granitoids.
- In Figure 2 we describe the specific field relations of the granulites and granitoids, to outline the task of sample selection for our isotopic study.
- The major rock types in the Masasi area are granitoid gneisses, marbles, schists and quartzites.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Italian granito, literally 'grained', from grano 'grain', from Latin granum.