bauxite

[ bawk-sahyt, boh-zahyt ]
/ ˈbɔk saɪt, ˈboʊ zaɪt /

noun

a rock consisting of aluminum oxides and hydroxides with various impurities: the principal ore of aluminum.

Origin of bauxite

1860–65; named after Les Baux, near Arles in S France; see -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM bauxite

baux·it·ic [bawk-sit-ik, boh-zit-] /bɔkˈsɪt ɪk, boʊˈzɪt-/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for bauxite

British Dictionary definitions for bauxite

bauxite
/ (ˈbɔːksaɪt) /

noun

a white, red, yellow, or brown amorphous claylike substance comprising aluminium oxides and hydroxides, often with such impurities as iron oxides. It is the chief ore of aluminium. General formula: Al 2 O 3 . n H 2 O

Word Origin for bauxite

C19: from French, from ( Les) Baux in southern France, where it was originally found

Scientific definitions for bauxite

bauxite
[ bôksīt′ ]

A soft, whitish to reddish-brown rock consisting mainly of hydrous aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides along with silica, silt, iron hydroxides, and clay minerals. Bauxite forms from the breakdown of clays and is a major source of aluminum.