pearlite

noun

pearl·​ite ˈpər(-ə)-ˌlīt How to pronounce pearlite (audio)
: the lamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite in slowly cooled iron-carbon alloys occurring normally as a principal constituent of both steel and cast iron
pearlitic adjective

Examples of pearlite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For filling your bed, Wied suggests using a third topsoil, a third compost, and a third drainage material such as pearlite or vermiculite. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

French perlite, from perle pearl

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pearlite was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near pearlite

Cite this Entry

“Pearlite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pearlite. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on pearlite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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