basalt

noun

ba·​salt bə-ˈsȯlt  ˈbā-ˌsȯlt 

: a dark gray to black dense to fine-grained igneous rock that consists of basic plagioclase, augite, and usually magnetite

basaltic

bə-ˈsȯl-tik 

adjective

Examples of basalt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

First, they were made of basalt, rather than flint — a standard material for chopping tools such as axe heads from that same era. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

Beside each tree, Beuys erected a basalt stone pillar drawn from a pile placed in front of the Fridericianum, Kassel’s main museum. —Red Cameron, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025

Disko Adventures, for example, is adding more guides and tours, such as dog sledding in the summer, and a range of kayak tours along Disko Island’s basalt column shores. —Laura Hall, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2024

In 1970, Smithson traveled to the Great Salt Lake’s Rozel Point peninsula, northwest of Salt Lake City, and arranged 6,000 tons of local black basalt rock into a 1,500-foot-long, protruding line, which reaches into the lake and curls counterclockwise into a spiral. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin basaltes, manuscript variant of basanites touchstone, from Greek basanitēs (lithos), from basanos touchstone, from Egyptian bḫnw

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

basalt

noun

ba·​salt bə-ˈsȯlt  ˈbā-ˌsȯlt 

: a dark gray to black usually fine-grained igneous rock

basaltic

bə-ˈsȯl-tik 

adjective