phanerite
|fæn-ə-raɪt|
/ˈfænəraɪt/
visible crystals (in rock)
Etymology
'phanerite' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'phanerós' (φανερός), where 'phaner-' meant 'visible' and the suffix '-ite' was used to form names of rocks and minerals.
'phanerite' entered scientific usage from Neo-Latin/modern geological terminology (via forms such as 'phanerites') and eventually became the standard English term 'phanerite' in 19th-century geology.
Initially related to the notion 'visible' (from Greek), it evolved into the specific geological meaning 'an igneous rock with crystals visible to the naked eye.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an igneous rock whose mineral grains are large enough to be seen with the unaided eye; a coarse-grained (phaneritic) igneous rock.
The granite was identified as a phanerite because its crystals were easily visible without magnification.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/04 02:54