montmorillonite
[ mont-muh-ril-uh-nahyt ]
/ ˌmɒnt məˈrɪl əˌnaɪt /
noun
any of a group of clay minerals characterized by the ability to expand when they absorb large quantities of water.
Also called
smectite.
Origin of montmorillonite
1850–55; named after
Montmorillon, France, where it was found; see
-ite1
OTHER WORDS FROM montmorillonite
mont·mo·ril·lon·it·ic [mont-muh-ril-uh-nit-ik] /ˌmɒnt məˌrɪl əˈnɪt ɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby montmorillonite
montilla,
montluçon,
montmagny,
montmartre,
montmorency,
montmorillonite,
montparnasse,
montpelier,
montpellier,
montrachet,
montreal
British Dictionary definitions for montmorillonite
montmorillonite
/ (ˌmɒntməˈrɪləˌnaɪt) /
noun
a clay mineral consisting of hydrated aluminium silicate: an important component of bentonite
Word Origin for montmorillonite
C19: named after
Montmorillon, French town where it was first found, +
-ite
1