orthoclase
[ awr-thuh-kleys, -kleyz ]
/ ˈɔr θəˌkleɪs, -ˌkleɪz /
noun
a common white or pink mineral of the feldspar group, KAlSi3O8, having two good cleavages at right angles, and found in silica-rich igneous rocks: used in the manufacture of porcelain.
Origin of orthoclase
Words nearby orthoclase
orthocenter,
orthocentre,
orthocephalic,
orthochorea,
orthochromatic,
orthoclase,
orthoclastic,
orthocytosis,
orthodontia,
orthodontics,
orthodontist
Example sentences from the Web for orthoclase
British Dictionary definitions for orthoclase
orthoclase
/ (ˈɔːθəʊˌkleɪs, -ˌkleɪz) /
noun
a white to pale yellow, red, or green mineral of the feldspar group, found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It is used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. Composition: potassium aluminium silicate. Formula: KAlSi 3 O 8 . Crystal structure: monoclinic
Scientific definitions for orthoclase
orthoclase
[ ôr′thə-klās′ ]
A white to yellowish red monoclinic mineral of the potassium feldspar group that forms from medium- to low-temperature magmas. Chemical formula: KAlSi3O8.