calamine
1
8.2
A pale pink or white mineral used to get zinc from the ground
- noun
- /ˈkæl.ə.maɪn/
- Archaic
:
calamina
- Calamine is often found in nature as a white or pinkish mineral used in various applications.
Examples
-
During the field trip, students learned how calamine can be a significant ore of zinc.
-
Tablecloths, picture frames, teacups, bottles of Lacto Calamine all ended up on the floor.
Fiction book (2002) -
The geologist explained that calamine is a mineral commonly associated with zinc deposits.
Synonyms
9.9
A white or pale mineral that contains zinc and is used as a source of the metal
is broader, covering carbonate as well as silicate and often pinkish
Compounds
4
3.0
A liquid medicine you put on skin to ease itching from rashes, bites, or mild sunburn
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word calamine comes from old French calamine and medieval Latin calamina, both names for a pale 'zinc ore'. People used this mineral to add zinc when making brass, so calamine still refers to a zinc mineral.