allanite

noun

al·​lan·​ite

ˈaləˌnīt

plural -s

: a mineral consisting of a brown or black monoclinic silicate allied to epidote and containing cerium, thorium, and other rare metals

allanitic

¦alə¦nitik

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Thomas Allan †1833 English mineralogist, its discoverer + English -ite

First Known Use

1810, 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!