aphanite

noun

aph·​a·​nite

ˈafəˌnīt,

usually -t + V

plural -s

: a dark rock of such close texture that its separate grains are invisible to the naked eye

aphanitic

¦afə¦nitik

adjective

aphanitism

ˈafəˌnītˌizəm;

əˈfanəˌtiz-

aˈ-

noun

plural -s

Word History

Etymology

French, from aphan- + -ite

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!