spherulite

[ sfer-oo-lahyt, -yoo-, sfeer- ]
/ ˈsfɛr ʊˌlaɪt, -yʊ-, ˈsfɪər- /

noun Petrology.

a rounded aggregate of radiating crystals found in obsidian and other glassy igneous rocks.

Origin of spherulite

First recorded in 1815–25; spherule + -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM spherulite

spher·u·lit·ic [sfer-oo-lit-ik, -yoo-, sfeer-] /ˌsfɛr ʊˈlɪt ɪk, -yʊ-, ˌsfɪər-/, adjective

Words nearby spherulite

spheroidicity, spherometer, spherophakia, spheroplast, spherule, spherulite, sphery, sphincter, sphincter muscle of common bile duct, sphincter muscle of pancreatic duct, sphincter muscle of pupil

British Dictionary definitions for spherulite

spherulite
/ (ˈsfɛrʊˌlaɪt) /

noun

any of several spherical masses of radiating needle-like crystals of one or more minerals occurring in rocks such as obsidian

Derived forms of spherulite

spherulitic (ˌsfɛrʊˈlɪtɪk), adjective