smectite

noun

smec·​tite ˈsmek-ˌtīt How to pronounce smectite (audio)
smectitic adjective

Examples of smectite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Benson and his colleagues studied samples of both smectite and illite drilled from the ground throughout the caldera. Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 30 Aug. 2023 In 2018, Wallace co-led an offshore drilling expedition to Hikurangi, which pulled up a lot of clay sediments rich in the mineral smectite, often used by the oil and gas industry as a lubricant in drilling muds. Bypaul Voosen, science.org, 21 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

smectis fuller's earth, modification of Greek smēktris kind of fuller's earth, from smēchein to clean

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smectite was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near smectite

Cite this Entry

“Smectite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smectite. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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