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Glite Dictionary
pisolite

pisolite

1 9.9
A rock made of small round grains the size of peas
  • noun
  • /ˈpaɪsəˌlaɪt/
  • Specialized
: pisolita
  • The pisolite forms in warm, shallow marine environments.

Examples

  • The sample's texture and composition confirmed it was a pisolite.

  • The museum displayed a rare pisolite with perfectly rounded grains.

  • Geologists often study pisolite to understand ancient sedimentary environments.

  • Many pisolites contain calcium carbonate as a major component.

  • The geologist discovered a large piece of pisolite while examining the sediment layers at the site.

  • During the field trip, the students collected samples of pisolite from the rocky outcrop along the riverbank.

  • The unique texture of pisolite makes it easy to distinguish from other sedimentary rocks.

Synonyms

rock
vspisolite
∞ 1.0

Hard natural stone that you find on the ground or underground

is a sedimentary kind made of pea-sized rounded grains
sedimentary rock
vspisolite
  • Specialized
3 3.5

Rock made from layers of sand, mud, or broken shells

is a specific example with pea-sized rounded grains within that broader class
oolite
vspisolite
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A rock made of many small round grains of calcium carbonate

is composed of larger pea-sized rounded grains rather than smaller carbonate grains

Surface Forms

pisolite singular
pisolites plural

Morphology

pisolite = pisolith (opaque) = piso + lith + ite

The elements are learned combining forms from classical languages used in technical mineral names and are not recognizable to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word pisolite comes from words meaning 'pea' and 'stone' — Latin pisum 'pea' and Greek lithos 'stone'. So a pisolite is a rock made of many small, round pieces that look like peas.