silicates
|sil/i/cates|
/ˈsɪlɪkeɪt/
(silicate)
silicon compound
Etymology
'silicate' originates from New Latin 'silicatus', formed from 'silica' and the chemical suffix '-ate' (denoting a salt or ester); 'silica' itself comes from Latin 'silex' meaning 'flint'.
'silicate' developed from Latin 'silex' > Medieval/Modern Latin 'silica' > New Latin 'silicatus', with the English formation 'silicate' reflecting the -ate suffix used for salts/esters.
Initially associated with 'flint' or 'silica' (materials like flint), the term evolved to mean specifically a salt or ester of silicic acid and, by extension, the class of minerals containing silicon-oxygen tetrahedra.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a salt or ester of silicic acid, containing silicon and oxygen; a chemical compound in which silicon is bonded to oxygen and other elements (general chemical sense).
Many industrial processes produce silicates as by-products.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/14 05:16