alalite

noun

al·​a·​lite

ˈa-lə-ˌlīt

plural -s

: a light-green variety of diopside from the Ala valley

Word History

Etymology

French, from Ala, town & valley in northwestern Italy + French -lite

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!