feldspar

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any mineral in a major group of rock-forming aluminosilicates containing potassium, sodium, or calcium

   Pink feldspar crystals stood out clearly in the coarse-grained granite.

2. 2
   noun

   the feldspar mineral group considered collectively, which makes up much of Earth's crust

   Feldspar weathers into clay minerals at the exposed surface.

A partial calque of German Feldspat, from Feld, 'field,' + Spat, 'spar,' with the second element replaced by its English cognate. Felspar is an established spelling variant.

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