diabase
9.5
A hard dark rock used to make roads and buildings
- noun
- /ˈdaɪəˌbeɪs/
- Specialized
:
diabasa
- In areas such as Bergen Point, where the sediment is largely made up of diabase, a granite-like rock, they're blasting first.
Examples
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Diabase is a hard, dark rock commonly used in diabase construction.
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The geologist explained that diabase is often found in areas with volcanic activity.
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In the building industry, diabase is preferred for its durability and strength.
Synonyms
5.7
A hard dark rock formed by volcanoes that people use to build roads and buildings
is a single specific member of that group rather than the wider category
Surface Forms
Etymology
Diabase originally comes from parts like dia- 'through' and basis 'step', and a helpful way to remember it is to think of the rock cutting 'through' other layers in the ground. It is like basalt, another dark volcanic rock, so the name fits a hard, dark stone used for strong building work.
