anorthosite

[ an-awr-thuh-sahyt ]
/ ænˈɔr θəˌsaɪt /

noun Petrology.

a granular plutonic rock composed largely of labradorite or a more calcic feldspar.

Origin of anorthosite

1860–65; < French anorthose anorthoclase ( an- an-1 + Greek orthós straight) + -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM anorthosite

an·or·tho·sit·ic [an-aw-thuh-sit-ik] /ænˌɔ θəˈsɪt ɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for anorthosite

British Dictionary definitions for anorthosite

anorthosite
/ (ænˈɔːθəˌsaɪt) /

noun

a coarse-grained plutonic igneous rock consisting almost entirely of plagioclase feldspar

Word Origin for anorthosite

C19: from French anorthose (see an-, ortho-) + -ite 1

Scientific definitions for anorthosite

anorthosite
[ ăn-ôrthə-sīt′ ]

An igneous rock consisting almost entirely of plagioclase feldspar, especially the labradorite variety. Anorthosites have been identified among rock samples collected from the Moon.