silicate

C2 Topic:Science & Research

US /ˈsɪlɪkət/ UK /ˈsɪlɪkət/ See IPA manual

Freq #64642

Meanings

1

noun
chemistry: a salt or ester derived from a silicic acid and containing silicon and oxygen

The solution formed a silicate when it reacted with the dissolved metal ions.
2

noun
a mineral whose structure is based on silicon-oxygen units; collectively, the largest class of rock-forming minerals

Feldspar is a common silicate in granite.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · chemistry: a salt or ester... silicic-acid salt

2 noun · a mineral whose structure... silicate mineral

Word family

Forms silicates

Derived forms aluminosilicatephyllosilicatetectosilicate

Related forms silicasilicon siliceous mineral

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

sodium silicate
a glassy sodium compound used in solutions for adhesives and protective coatings

Noun + noun

Etymology

Formed in scientific Latin and English from silica or silicic acid + -ate, the suffix used for salts and esters. Silica ultimately derives from Latin silex, genitive silicis, 'flint or hard stone.' Mineralogy extended the chemical name to minerals built from silicon-oxygen units.

Topics

Science & Research Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# silicate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪlɪkət/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɪlɪkət/
**Frequency rank:** 64642

## Meanings
1. chemistry: a salt or ester derived from a silicic acid and containing silicon and oxygen
2. a mineral whose structure is based on silicon-oxygen units; collectively, the largest class of rock-forming minerals

## Examples
- The solution formed a silicate when it reacted with the dissolved metal ions.
- Feldspar is a common silicate in granite.

## Synonyms
- silicic-acid salt
- silicate mineral

## Derived Forms
- aluminosilicate
- phyllosilicate
- tectosilicate

## Related Forms
- silica
- silicon
- siliceous
- mineral

## Etymology
Formed in scientific Latin and English from silica or silicic acid + -ate, the suffix used for salts and esters. Silica ultimately derives from Latin silex, genitive silicis, 'flint or hard stone.' Mineralogy extended the chemical name to minerals built from silicon-oxygen units.

## Topics
- Science & Research
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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