olivine

noun

ol·​iv·​ine ˈä-lə-ˌvēn How to pronounce olivine (audio)
: a usually greenish mineral that is a complex silicate of magnesium and iron used especially in refractories compare peridot
olivinic adjective
or olivinitic

Examples of olivine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In July, the company poured 8200 tons of olivine into the Atlantic Ocean near North Carolina, with the approval of state regulators and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 14 Aug. 2024 Additionally, this early study of the core has initial results on how an abundant mineral in mantle rock called olivine reacts with salty seawater. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Aug. 2024 But this straightforward scenario is complicated by something else Perseverance has glimpsed in the rock’s veins: tiny crystals of olivine, a greenish mineral that forms from magma. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 26 July 2024 Peridot is a yellow-green stone that comes from the mineral olivine. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for olivine 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'olivine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German Olivin, from Latin oliva

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of olivine was in 1794

Dictionary Entries Near olivine

Cite this Entry

“Olivine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olivine. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

olivine

noun
ol·​iv·​ine ˈäl-ə-ˌvēn How to pronounce olivine (audio)
: a usually greenish mineral that is a silicate of magnesium and iron

More from Merriam-Webster on olivine

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!