Amphibole Definition
ămfə-bōl
noun
Any of a large group of structurally similar hydrated double silicate minerals, such as hornblende, containing various combinations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum.
American Heritage
Any of a group of rock-forming minerals, as hornblende or actinolite, composed largely of silica, calcium, iron, and magnesium: they are common constituents of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Webster's New World
Any of a large group of structurally similar silicate minerals, such as hornblende, that have a crystalline structure consisting of a double chain of linked SiO4 units and that contain various combinations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum. Several varieties of asbestos are fibrous forms of amphiboles.
American Heritage Medicine
Other Word Forms of Amphibole
Noun
Singular:
amphibole
Plural:
amphibolesOrigin of Amphibole
-
French from Late Latin amphibolus ambiguous from Greek amphibolos doubtful from amphiballein to throw on either side amphi- amphi- ballein to throw gwelə- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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