mineral

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   composed of matter other than plant or animal

   the inorganic mineral world

2. 2
   adj

   relating to minerals

   mineral elements

3. 3
   noun

   Any naturally occurring material that has a (more or less) definite chemical composition and characteristic physical properties; especially, an inorganic one.

   The physiology of matter in the abstract is dynamical, that of mineral species is both dynamical and chemical, while that of organized forms is at once dynamical, chemical, and biotical.

4. 4
   noun

   A mine or mineral deposit.

   O'er whom his very madness, like some ore / Among a mineral of metals base, / Shows itself pure;

5. 5
   noun

   A poisonous or dangerous substance.

   ...Thou hast... / Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals[…]

6. 6
   noun

   solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition

7. 7
   noun

   Any inorganic material (as distinguished from animal or vegetable).

8. 8
   noun

   Any inorganic element that is essential to nutrition.

Etymology

From Middle English mineral, borrowed from Old French mineral, (French minéral), from Medieval Latin minerale, from minera (“ore”), probably ultimately derived from Latin mina (“ore, mine”).