olivine

[ ol-uh-veen, ol-uh-veen ]
/ ˈɒl əˌvin, ˌɒl əˈvin /

noun

Mineralogy. any of a group of magnesium iron silicates, (Mg,Fe)2SiO4, occurring in olive-green to gray-green masses as an important constituent of basic igneous rocks.
Also called chrysolite.

Origin of olivine

1785–95; < German Olivin, equivalent to Olive olive + -in -ine2

OTHER WORDS FROM olivine

ol·i·vin·ic [ol-uh-vin-ik] /ˌɒl əˈvɪn ɪk/, ol·i·vin·it·ic [ol-uh-vi-nit-ik] /ˌɒl ə vɪˈnɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby olivine

olivette, olivia, olivier, olivier, laurence, olivifugal, olivine, olivipetal, olivopontocerebellar, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, olla, olla podrida

Example sentences from the Web for olivine

British Dictionary definitions for olivine

olivine
/ (ˈɒlɪˌviːn, ˌɒlɪˈviːn) /

noun

an olive-green mineral of the olivine group, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The clear-green variety (peridot) is used as a gemstone. Composition: magnesium iron silicate. Formula: (MgFe) 2 SiO 4 . Crystal structure: orthorhombic Also called: chrysolite
any mineral in the group having the general formula (Mg,Fe,Mn,Ca) 2 SiO 4

Word Origin for olivine

C18: from German, named after its colour

Scientific definitions for olivine

olivine
[ ŏl′ə-vēn′ ]

An olive-green to brownish-green orthorhombic mineral. Olivine is a common mineral in the igneous rocks, such as basalt and gabbro, that make up most of the Earth's crust beneath the oceans. Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. ♦ Olivine in which the mafic component consists entirely of magnesium is called forsterite. Chemical formula: Mg2SiO4.♦ Olivine in which the mafic component consists entirely of iron is called fayalite. Chemical formula: Fe2SiO4.